[Global Issue+] COVID-19 Vaccines Facing Increasing Challenges in Development and Distribution Amid Growing Fear of Side Effects

Fear Spreads After AstraZeneca Side Effect Reports
Vaccine Phobia Already Severe...Cause of Last Year's Measles Outbreak

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, expected to be released as early as this year, is anticipated to face difficulties in widespread inoculation due to growing fears stemming from various side effects. Originally, vaccines are released after several years of development, safety checks, and side effect evaluations, but this vaccine was developed by compressing the timeline as much as possible. Moreover, with actual side effect cases being reported, some pharmaceutical companies have even seen volunteers participating in clinical trials refuse vaccination.

According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 19th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Health announced that some recipients of the Sputnik V vaccine, developed by a state research institute, have experienced side effects. Numerically, side effects occur in about one out of every seven people, mostly mild symptoms such as slight fever, headache, and fatigue. Nevertheless, TASS reported that more than half of the Russian population is reluctant to get vaccinated due to concerns about side effects.

Earlier, on the 6th, after side effects were reported in the clinical trials of AstraZeneca's vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, managing side effects became a critical issue for pharmaceutical companies. Subsequently, on the 15th, Pfizer announced mild side effects in its vaccine under development, and Johnson & Johnson reported that some participants in the Phase 2 clinical trial in Spain refused vaccination and dropped out due to concerns about side effects.

These side effects are feared to further intensify the already spreading 'vaccine phobia' that began worldwide last year. Last year, measles outbreaks occurred significantly in advanced countries such as the United States, Japan, and France, caused by increasing numbers of people refusing vaccination due to vaccine phobia. Particularly, the U.S., which had been classified as a measles elimination country by WHO in 2000, was quite alarmed by the spread of measles, especially in major cities. In France, over 3,000 cases were reported, more than 2,500 in Italy, and over 250 infections centered around Osaka and Tokyo in Japan.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Unlike other deadly infectious diseases, measles can be prevented over 95% by just one vaccination during infancy, so it was known as a disease unlikely to cause large outbreaks except in some developing or underdeveloped countries with inadequate medical systems or vaccine distribution. The large-scale outbreaks in major cities of advanced countries were unusual incidents. This was attributed to fake news spreading on social media services (SNS) that fueled fears about vaccines.

According to the BBC, vaccine phobia spread worldwide after a 1998 study published in a medical journal in the UK suggested that the MMR vaccine, which simultaneously prevents measles, mumps, and rubella, might cause autism. Although the study was later proven false, the vaccine rumors that spread globally via SNS did not subside but continuously expanded and reproduced. This led to vaccine refusal movements, which became the main cause of unexpected measles outbreaks in advanced countries.

The COVID-19 vaccine, developed under emergency approvals during clinical processes in various countries, is reportedly suffering from even more fake news and conspiracy theories. CNN reported that in the U.S., false rumors are spreading that the COVID-19 vaccine contains monkey brains, implants tiny chips to monitor every move of individuals, or causes physical deformities after vaccination. In a situation where at least 70% of the total population must be vaccinated to expect herd immunity, health authorities worldwide are faced with the challenge of fighting not only COVID-19 but also fake news.