Which COVID Vaccine Has Been Recalled?

The AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have both faced significant actions, including recalls or severe restrictions, primarily due to their association with a rare but serious blood clotting disorder.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Recall

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, known as Vaxzevria, was recalled and has been withdrawn from markets globally. This decision followed a confirmed link to a rare but severe side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).

• Reason for Recall: TTS is a very rare condition involving blood clots (thrombosis) combined with low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). While extremely uncommon, this potential side effect led to a re-evaluation of the vaccine's risk-benefit profile, particularly as other vaccine options became widely available.
• Global Withdrawal: AstraZeneca announced the withdrawal of its marketing authorization for Vaxzevria in the European Union and other countries, citing commercial reasons and a surplus of updated vaccines targeting new variants. However, this withdrawal came after the acknowledged link to TTS, which had already led to reduced demand and usage globally.
• Impact: The concerns over TTS significantly impacted public confidence and led many countries to either limit its use, prioritize it for older age groups, or cease its administration altogether.

For more detailed information on AstraZeneca's withdrawal, you can refer to reports from reputable sources like the BBC or the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine

The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine also garnered attention due to its link with a similar rare blood clotting disorder, TTS. While not a global market withdrawal in the same manner as AstraZeneca's, the J&J vaccine faced significant restrictions and warnings from regulatory bodies.

• Association with TTS: Like AstraZeneca, the J&J vaccine was found to have a rare association with TTS, prompting a temporary pause in its administration in the United States and subsequent revisions to its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
• Regulatory Actions: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paused the use of the J&J vaccine in April 2021 to investigate the TTS cases. Later, the FDA revised its EUA in May 2022 to limit the vaccine's use to individuals for whom other authorized vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate, or those who specifically choose the J&J vaccine due to personal preference. This effectively acted as a significant restriction based on safety concerns.
• Current Status: The J&J vaccine is no longer widely administered as a primary COVID-19 vaccine in many countries, and its use remains limited due to the availability of mRNA vaccines and the continued awareness of the TTS risk.

For further reading on the FDA's actions regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you can visit the FDA's official website.

Overview of Recalled/Restricted Vaccines

The following table summarizes the key information regarding the COVID-19 vaccines discussed:

These actions underscore the rigorous safety monitoring involved in vaccine development and deployment, ensuring that public health decisions are continually adapted based on emerging scientific evidence.