AstraZeneca Halts Global Distribution of Its COVID-19 Vaccine

The decision follows a significant drop in demand and the emergence of rare but serious side effects, despite the vaccine's pivotal role in global pandemic response.

• AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, developed with Oxford University, has been withdrawn from the market worldwide due to decreased demand and competition from other vaccines.
• The vaccine was crucial in preventing millions of COVID-19 deaths, particularly in low-income countries, with over 3 billion doses administered globally.
• Rare cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) and other serious side effects have been linked to the vaccine, impacting its usage.
• Experts highlight the need for ongoing research into vaccine-induced side effects to improve future vaccine safety and efficacy.
• The vaccine's technology, based on adenovirus vectors, was initially celebrated for its innovation and accessibility compared to mRNA vaccines.

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