Switzerland Rejects AstraZeneca Vaccine

Misbar’s investigation found that Switzerland has become the first European country to reject an application by AstraZeneca for regulatory approval. According to Healthpolicy Watch, Swissmedic believes the data submitted and analyzed so far for the AstraZeneca vaccine is not sufficient to permit authorization. 

In a statement issued by Swissmedic, they said that they are “currently reviewing two applications for the authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines. With regard to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the data submitted and analysed so far are not yet sufficient to permit authorisation. To obtain more information about safety, efficacy and quality, additional data from new studies are needed.” Swissmedic is the Swiss authority responsible for the authorization and supervision of therapeutic products. According to Swissmedic: “The data currently available do not point to a positive decision regarding benefits and risks.”

According to BioSpace.com, AstraZeneca’s Phase III clinical trial of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) shows 76% efficacy after the initial dose and 82% efficacy 12 weeks later, after the second dose. The vaccine already is approved by the E.U. and by approximately 40 countries, including the U.K. The sticking point may be the lack of data in people aged 65 and older – the same issue that concerned Germany and South Korea.