The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is being withdrawn worldwide. The company cited commercial reasons for the withdrawal and the vaccine being replaced by updated versions targeting new variants.

This came months after the pharmaceutical giant's admission of rare and dangerous side effects.

The vaccine is no longer authorized for use in the European Union after AstraZeneca voluntarily withdrew its marketing authorization, effective Tuesday. Similar withdrawals are expected in the UK and other countries that approved the vaccine, known as Vaxzevria.

The decision marks the end of a vaccine hailed by Boris Johnson as a "triumph for British science," credited with saving over six million lives. 

- Side Effects -

Vaxzevria faced scrutiny for rare side effects causing blood clots and low platelet counts. AstraZeneca admitted in court documents in February that the vaccine can cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), linked to at least 81 deaths in the UK and numerous injuries.

Despite lawsuits and regulatory concerns, AstraZeneca claims the withdrawal is not related to the court case or TTS admission, attributing it to the vaccine's declining demand.

The UK largely phased out the AstraZeneca vaccine by autumn 2021, replacing it with Pfizer and Moderna jabs. AstraZeneca had never received approval for use in the US.

Regulatory authorities globally will withdraw marketing authorizations for Vaxzevria due to decreased demand. The European Medicines Agency expects other monovalent vaccines, targeting the original Wuhan strain, to be withdrawn eventually.

Legal battles continue, with AstraZeneca contesting claims that the vaccine caused severe adverse reactions. While the vaccine's withdrawal is welcomed by those who suffered, they seek fair compensation and reforms to vaccine damage payment schemes.