AstraZeneca is withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine from worldwide circulation and marketing authorizations.

The British-Swedish company recently acknowledged side effects such as blood clots and low platelet counts in court papers, Reuters news agency reported Tuesday.

But AstraZeneca said in a statement that the slipping COVID-19 market has become saturated with newer vaccines, hurting Vaxzevria‘s sales.

“As multiple, variant COVID-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines,” the company said.
Vaxzevria is no longer being manufactured or supplied, Reuters reported.

The multinational company’s application to withdraw Vaxzevria was made March 5 and took effect Tuesday, according to the first reports on the matter from the Telegraph.

• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.