AstraZeneca has begun the global withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, citing a surplus of updated vaccines designed to combat new virus variants.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a notice announcing that the vaccine is no longer authorised for use and that its authorisation had been withdrawn at the request of the marketing authorisation holder.

The new development follows the company's voluntary withdrawal of its marketing authorisation for the vaccine in the European Union in March 2024.

The decision aligns with AstraZeneca's statement, as quoted by the Telegraph, that the availability of newer vaccines adapted to target Covid-19 variants, has decreased the demand for Vaxzevria.

AstraZeneca highlighted the vaccine's impact, stating: “According to independent estimates, over 6.5 million lives were saved in the first year of use alone and over three billion doses were supplied globally”.

The company emphasised its role in addressing the global pandemic and expressed its intention to collaborate with regulators and partners to finalise this phase of its contribution.

Countries such as Australia already ceased the supply of Vaxzevria, with its use discontinued in March 2023.

The vaccine's phase-out began in June 2021 due to the availability of new vaccines.

Vaxzevria, previously known as the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, was administered as two injections into the upper arm muscle, typically three months apart, and authorised for individuals aged 18 and above.

The vaccine employed a modified adenovirus vector to deliver the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein gene, triggering an immune response without causing an infection itself.

Despite its overall safety and efficacy, Vaxzevria was associated with a rare but severe side effect, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), affecting two to three individuals per 100,000 vaccinated.

The World Health Organization's latest vaccine guidance from April 2024 recommends that Covid-19 vaccine formulations should target the JN.1 lineage, which is displacing the existing XBB lineage variants.