AstraZeneca Begins Worldwide Withdrawal of COVID-19 Vaccine

AstraZeneca recently admitted in a UK court document that its shot ‘can, in very rare cases, cause’ blood clots and low platelets.

Clinical pharmacist Ellie Morton prepares to administer the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the community vaccination centre at Kingston University's Penrhyn Road campus in London, England, on March 12, 2021. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

AstraZeneca has commenced a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, citing a “surplus” of updated jabs for new variants, months after acknowledging its rare risk of serious side effects.

The pharmaceutical giant’s jab, Vaxzevria, is no longer authorized in the European Union as of May 7, after AstraZeneca requested the withdrawal of its “marketing authorization” on March 5.