COVID in WA: Department of Health confirms AstraZeneca vaccine phased out due to availability of newer options

The AstraZeneca vaccine has been discontinued in Australia after being superseded by newer COVID-19 vaccines.

The Federal health department confirmed the vaccine, sold under the brand name Vaxzevria, hasn’t been available to Australians since March 20.

The last batch of stock expired on March 21, 2023.

A Department of Health spokesperson said the phasing out of the vaccine was due to the availability of newer options.

“This was not a decision based on safety as some people have misrepresented on social media,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail Australia.

“As expected, first-generation vaccines have been superseded by newer vaccines targeting the strains of the virus now circulating.

“The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine remains provisionally approved by the TGA, however, the sponsor made a commercial decision with respect to supply of AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia.”

The AstraZeneca vaccine was approved for use on people aged 18 and over as a primary course from February 15, 2021 and as a booster dose on February 8, 2022.

But from October, 2021, it was available by request only in favour of the newer Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.

In 2021, the AstraZeneca vaccine’s use was limited to people over 60 following concerns over an extremely rare side effect of blood clotting.

There were eight cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome in WA.