Aussie doctor speaks out on AstraZeneca vaccine after it was pulled ...

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President Nicola Higgins has told Australians who have had the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine they have no reason for alarm.

The vaccine — called Vaxzevria and developed in partnership with the University of Oxford — was one of the most common COVID-19 vaccines used worldwide, with more than three billion doses supplied since 2021.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President Nicola Higgins reassures Aussies who have had the AstraZeneca vaccine.

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The company is also facing a class action lawsuit in the UK brought by law firm Leigh Day on behalf of 51 claimants due to injuries allegedly caused by Vaxzevria.

Twelve of the claimants are acting on behalf of a loved one who died following a complication allegedly caused by the vaccine, related to the blood clotting issue.

There is a link between the vaccine, known as Vaxzevria, and a rare but serious side effect called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS).

AstraZeneca has said the vaccine was being withdrawn for commercial reasons, and that it was no longer being manufactured or supplied because there were now better vaccines suited to tackling new variants.

On Thursday, Higgins appeared on Sunrise, saying news about the possible side effects was not new information, with those risks previously being raised.

“It’s not new,” Higgins said.

“What we know is that these risks were raised at the time and the vaccines that have been developed since don’t carry those risks and the new vaccines protect you against new strains of COVID-19.”

Higgins said while she appreciates the concern, the AstraZeneca vaccine hasn’t been used in Australia since March last year.

“We need to remember the (level of) risk (we’re) talking about — which is the clot is about one in 50,000 for our population compared to say having a baby, which is one in 12,000 of dying,” Higgins said.

“So, this is a very low-risk — I understand the concern, but the vaccine isn’t being used in Australia because we’ve got better ones (nowadays).”

Higgins also said boosters were a good idea.

“We still need to encourage people to have their boosters — If you haven’t had one in the last six months, and you are eligible,” Higgins said.

“It’s a great opportunity to get it when you get your flu vaccine.

“The flu is one of the reasons why people end up in hospital and dying in Australia.

“So, this is all preventable.”

An application to withdraw the vaccine in the European Union was made on March 5 and came into effect on Tuesday, according to The Telegraph.

Similar applications will be made by the company over the next few months in several other countries where the vaccine was approved, such as Australia.

Last month, AstraZeneca admitted for the first time in a UK court that its vaccine could cause thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS) as a possible side effect.

According to the Australian Department of Health, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS) involves blood clotting with low platelets.

The blood clots can occur in parts of the body such as the brain or the stomach.

The syndrome can cause long-term disability or death.

The company is currently being sued in a class action over claims its vaccine caused several cases of death and serious injury, The Telegraph reported.

The first case was lodged last year by a father-of-two who was left with a permanent brain injury when he developed a blood clot and a bleed on the brain after he received the vaccine in April 2021.

AstraZeneca sad its decision to pull the vaccine had nothing to do with the court case or its recent TTS admission.

“As multiple, variant COVID-19 vaccines have since been developed, there is a surplus of available updated vaccines. This has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied,” the company said in a statement.

“AstraZeneca has therefore taken the decision to initiate withdrawal of the marketing authorisations for Vaxzevria within Europe.”

In Australia, almost 14 million doses were administered.

The department estimates the rate of TTS from AstraZeneca was about two per 100,000 aged 60 years or older, or about two to three per 100,000 in people under 60.

Some cases in Australia were fatal, however the fatality rate was lower than reported internationally.