Ghana Health Service (GHS) has provided clarification regarding the withdrawal of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, attributing it primarily to commercial reasons.
AstraZeneca, a key vaccine used during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, has globally announced the withdrawal of its vaccines.
This decision comes as the pharmaceutical company cited the presence of an uncommon adverse effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).
TTS is characterized by the formation of blood clots that can block veins or arteries, potentially leading to severe complications such as strokes or heart attacks.
Symptoms may manifest as unilateral leg pain and swelling, chest discomfort, or numbness on one side of the body. In response to these risks, AstraZeneca has chosen to remove its vaccines from circulation.
It’s important to note that this withdrawal is not related to any medical concerns regarding the vaccine’s efficacy or safety. Instead, it stems from commercial competition and the availability of updated vaccine alternatives since the onset of the pandemic.
During a tour as part of the COVID-19 Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week/African Vaccination Week Campaign in various areas of the Ga East Municipality in Accra on Wednesday, May 8, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, emphasized that while the withdrawal may raise questions, it is crucial to understand that it does not reflect any issues with the vaccine itself.
Rather, it is driven by market dynamics and the presence of newer vaccine options.
“They are withdrawing for commercial reasons in the sense that there are superior vaccines in the market.”
“And so if you are in a market and you will not be able to compete, why produce something when others will go for some other brand?” he said.