The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has explained the withdrawal of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, citing commercial reasons rather than medical concerns.

During a press briefing as part of the COVID-19 Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week/African Vaccination Week Campaign in various parts of the Ga East Municipality in Accra, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, clarified the rationale behind AstraZeneca's withdrawal.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye explained that the decision was primarily driven by commercial factors, as there are reportedly superior vaccines available in the market, rendering AstraZeneca less competitive.

"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,” citinewsroom.com quoted him to have said.

The move comes as the pharmaceutical giant initiates a global recall of its vaccine due to the emergence of an uncommon adverse effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).

Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) is characterized by the formation of blood clots that can obstruct veins or arteries, potentially leading to severe complications such as strokes or heart attacks, which could prove fatal.

Symptoms of TTS may include unilateral leg pain and swelling, chest discomfort, or one-sided body numbness.

AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of the vaccine, has acknowledged the existence of TTS and has begun withdrawing its vaccine from circulation globally.

The company attributed the withdrawal not to medical concerns but to a surplus of updated vaccines available in the market since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the report added.

AM/AE

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