A controversial Covid-19 vaccine — linked to a really uncommon however critical side-effect— has been quietly discontinued in Australia, the federal authorities has confirmed.
The AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, bought below the model title Vaxzevria, has not been out there to the Australian public since March 20.
The federal Department of Health and Aged Care confirmed the news in an announcement to news.com.au, saying though the vaccine stays provisionally permitted within the nation, AstraZeneca has determined to “formally discontinue Vaxzevria in Australia”.
According to the spokesperson, the final batch of pandemic provide inventory expired on March 21, 2023.
“The Government has entered into five separate agreements for the supply of Covid-19 vaccines and has secured sufficient doses to complete current and future booster requirements and any new or remaining primary course vaccinations,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“This diverse portfolio of vaccines provides Australian’s flexibility of choice and enables the government to address variants of concern in the future. The (Health) Department works closely with manufacturers to ensure access to the most updated vaccines.”
The spokesperson wished to emphasize the choice to section out Vaxzevria was “not a decision based on safety as some people have misrepresented on social media”, however by the elevated provide of other Covid vaccine choices.
“As expected, first generation vaccines have been superseded by newer vaccines targeting the strains of the virus now circulating.”
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provisionally permitted the AstraZeneca vaccine to be used in Australia for folks aged 18 years and over as a main course from February 15, 2021 and as a booster from February 8, 2022.
At the time, the TGA mentioned the choice to obtain a Vaxzevria booster have to be made in session with a well being skilled and that mRNA Covid vaccines (similar to Pfizer and Moderna’s) have been “preferred” boosters.
Months later, nevertheless, medical specialists began to advocate towards Australians below 60 taking the AstraZeneca vaccine resulting from issues over a potentially-fatal blood clotting dysfunction: Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).
The change got here after numerous instances of TSS amongst these aged 50-59 years, and the loss of life of a 52-year-old lady from a blood clot possible linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Despite the rarity of clots throughout all ages, the chance of growing one was barely greater in youthful sufferers.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) estimated on the time that the chance of TTS in Australia was round 3.1 per 100,000 for folks over 50 years and 1.8 per 100,000 for folks below 50 years.
However, after the Australian authorities secured 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine – 50 million of these produced in Melbourne by native producer CSL – and authorising a travel-friendly rebranding, AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria jab has been discontinued.
Deakin University chair of epidemiology Catherine Bennett says it’s no shock after demand dropped and different vaccines began to fill the gaps.
“It is not unexpected, as demand dropped with people completing their initial vaccine doses the focus for second and later doses has shifted to mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer and Moderna) and Novavax as an alternative to mRNAs technology,” she informed news.com.au.
Professor Bennett mentioned regardless of the hostile reactions and destructive press, the vaccine’s affect can’t be underestimated.
“AstraZeneca has saved many lives and we couldn’t have achieved the very high vaccination rates we did ahead of Omicron without it as there just wasn’t the mRNA supply,” she mentioned.
“It has helped us save many lives.”
AstraZeneca, she mentioned, served its goal getting folks vaccinated within the early days of the vaccine rollout. But it has been overtaken by the equally secure and efficient applied sciences developed in different vaccines.
Australians over the age of 65 in early 2023 have been suggested to get a Covid vaccine booster, based on ATAGI. Meanwhile, these aged 18 to 64 years, are beneficial to get a booster dose if they’ve an elevated threat of contracting the virus.
The Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson mentioned
“This was not a decision based on safety as some people have misrepresented on social media,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“As expected, first generation vaccines have been superseded by newer vaccines targeting the strains of the virus now circulating.”
Source: www.news.com.au
