AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical leader known for its COVID-19 vaccine, has commenced a global withdrawal of its vaccine due to the identification of a rare side effect termed Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).
This condition involves the formation of blood clots that can block veins or arteries and may present symptoms including pain and swelling in one leg, chest discomfort, or numbness on one side of the body.
These thrombotic events can lead to severe outcomes such as strokes or heart attacks.
The company has attributed the recall to an excess of newer vaccine options now available following the spike of the pandemic, allowing them to pull back the initial vaccine.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has reported 31 new cases of COVID-19.
Dr. Kwame Amponsah-Achiano, Programme Manager at the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, confirmed that the new cases are not severe while emphasizing that a vaccination campaign to curb the further spread of the virus will be launched soon.
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Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
