Vaxzevria

Pronunciation: Not established from the reviewed sources.

Generic name: COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
Brand names: Vaxzevria, COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
Drug class: Viral-vector COVID-19 vaccine
Form: Not established from the reviewed sources
Route: Historical route of administration not established from the reviewed sources
Legal status: EU marketing authorisation withdrawn on 27 March 2024; no longer authorised for use in the European Union

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: India

What COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is and how it works

Vaxzevria, previously called COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, was a viral-vector COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca. It used a recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1) engineered to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. (1) (2)

This vaccine is discontinued in the European Union. Its EU marketing authorisation was withdrawn on 27 March 2024 at AstraZeneca's request for commercial reasons and is no longer valid. Vaxzevria is no longer authorised for use in the European Union, manufactured, or supplied. This page is historical medicine information and is not a current vaccination option.

Mechanism of action: how COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca works

Vaxzevria was a viral-vector vaccine using a recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1) engineered to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. (1) (2)

What COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is used for

Historical EU use: prevention of COVID-19

Before withdrawal, Vaxzevria was authorised in the European Union for active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in people aged 18 years and older. It is no longer authorised for this use in the European Union. (1)

Before taking COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

Do not take / not appropriate for

This withdrawn vaccine is no longer authorised for use in the European Union. It should not be presented as a currently available EU vaccination option. (European Union) (1) (2)
Historically, EMA advised against use in people with a history of capillary leak syndrome. (Historical EU authorisation context) (1)

Tell your clinician about

If you have received Vaxzevria in the past and have questions about your vaccination history or any health concern, discuss this with a clinician.
The reviewed sources do not establish a detailed historical contraindications list, precautions list, pregnancy information, breastfeeding information, or interactions information.

(1) (2)

How to take COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

Vaxzevria is a withdrawn vaccine and is not a current authorised vaccination option in the European Union.
No original dosing schedule, dose volume, number of doses, dose interval, or administration instructions were established from the sources reviewed for this draft.
For current COVID-19 vaccination options, eligibility, and product-specific administration, consult an authorised local vaccination service or clinician.

(1) (2)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3)

Missed dose

No missed-dose guidance is provided because Vaxzevria is no longer authorised for use in the European Union and no original dosing schedule was established from the reviewed sources. Ask a clinician or local vaccination service about currently authorised COVID-19 vaccines.

Overdose

No overdose or administration-error guidance was established from the reviewed sources. Anyone with a suspected historical vaccine administration error or concerning symptoms should obtain clinical assessment. (1)

Side effects

The reviewed EMA material identifies thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) as a rare safety concern: blood clots occurring together with low platelet counts. Detailed adverse-reaction frequencies and tables were not established from the sources reviewed.

Common or expected reactions

What to notice: Not established from the reviewed sources.

What to do: Discuss persistent or concerning symptoms with a clinician. (1)

Possible concern after a historical Vaxzevria vaccination

What to notice: The reviewed sources do not provide a symptom list for TTS or other adverse reactions.

What to do: Seek prompt clinical assessment for concerning symptoms after any vaccination. (1)

Serious warnings

Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) — serious

Symptoms: TTS involves rare blood clots occurring together with low platelet counts. Specific symptoms were not established from the reviewed sources.

Action: Obtain urgent medical assessment for symptoms that could represent a serious illness. The reviewed sources do not provide product-specific emergency symptom or action-plan instructions. (1)

Capillary leak syndrome history — serious

Symptoms: Symptoms and management details were not established from the reviewed sources.

Action: Historically, EMA advised against Vaxzevria use in people with a history of capillary leak syndrome. Vaxzevria is now withdrawn and no longer authorised for use in the European Union. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or test	Effect	Action
Medicines, vaccines, and other treatments	No interaction information was established from the reviewed sources.	A clinician or pharmacist should assess current medicines and vaccination history when advising on currently authorised COVID-19 vaccination options. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Adults

The historical EU indication covered people aged 18 years and older. Vaxzevria is no longer authorised for use in the European Union. (1)

Children and adolescents

The historical EU indication described in the reviewed source was for individuals aged 18 years and older. No paediatric use information was established from the reviewed sources. (1)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy and breastfeeding information was not established from the reviewed sources. Discuss currently authorised vaccination options with a clinician. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

Not applicable as a current EU vaccination plan: Vaxzevria is no longer authorised for use in the European Union.
The reviewed sources do not establish historical screening, monitoring, or observation requirements.

During treatment

Not applicable as a current EU vaccination plan: Vaxzevria is no longer authorised for use in the European Union.
Anyone with concerns related to a past Vaxzevria vaccination should discuss these with a clinician.

(1) (2)

Storage

Storage requirements were not established from the reviewed sources. Vaxzevria is no longer manufactured, supplied, or authorised for use in the European Union.

Professional information

Historical clinician-facing context only. Vaxzevria is no longer authorised for use in the European Union. Consult current local public-health and product information for authorised COVID-19 vaccines.

European Union

Indication: Historical active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals aged 18 years and older

Dose summary: No historical dose, dose volume, number-of-dose, or interval information was captured in the sources reviewed. No current EU dosing applies because the marketing authorisation was withdrawn on 27 March 2024.

Renal context: Renal or hepatic impairment information was not established from the reviewed sources. (1) (2)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Hepatic impairment information was not established from the reviewed sources.

Overdose note

No overdose or administration-error guidance was established from the reviewed sources. (1) (2)

Frequently asked questions

Is Vaxzevria currently available in the European Union?

No. The EU marketing authorisation was withdrawn on 27 March 2024 at AstraZeneca's request for commercial reasons. It is no longer authorised for use in the European Union. (1) (2)

Why was Vaxzevria withdrawn?

EMA states that AstraZeneca requested withdrawal of the EU marketing authorisation for commercial reasons. Reporting cited a surplus of updated variant-adapted COVID-19 vaccines and declining demand as the commercial context; this withdrawal was not described in the reviewed material as a new safety signal. (1) (3)

What serious safety concern was identified historically?

EMA identified thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare condition involving blood clots together with low platelet counts. The reviewed sources do not establish specific TTS case or death figures. (1)

Was Vaxzevria authorised in the United States?

No US FDA source was reviewed for this draft, and this page does not establish US-specific status. (1)

What is the mechanism of action of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca?

Vaxzevria was a viral-vector vaccine using a recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1) engineered to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. (1) (2)

What is the generic name of Vaxzevria?

The generic name is COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. It is sold under brand names including Vaxzevria, COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. (1) (2)

What class of drug is COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca?

Vaxzevria is classed as: Viral-vector COVID-19 vaccine. (1) (2)

References

Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) — EPAR summaryEuropean Medicines Agency · European Union · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 1
Public statement: Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) — withdrawal of the marketing authorisation in the European UnionEuropean Medicines Agency · European Union · dated 2024 · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 2
AstraZeneca announces global withdrawal of VaxzevriaPharmaceutical Technology / FiercePharma · Global · dated 2024-05 · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 3

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

India

COVISHIELD5 x 10^10 viral particles per 0.5 ml dose · Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd

View brands in additional countries.