Concerns Over Side Effects Lead to Vaccination Hesitation
Half of German Appointees Are 'No-Shows'
"Waiting for Pfizer and Moderna"
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The COVID-19 vaccine from multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is being shunned in Europe. This is primarily because healthcare workers, who are the initial target group for vaccination, are reluctant to get vaccinated due to concerns about side effects.
According to Bloomberg on the 18th (local time), in Germany, less than one-tenth of the initial supply of AstraZeneca vaccines has been used. German health authorities stated, "In a special vaccination program for medical personnel, half of the 200 people who reserved the AstraZeneca vaccine did not receive the vaccination." This is a so-called 'no-show' situation where people neither canceled their reservations nor showed up at the vaccination site.
The general public shows a similar response. According to a survey conducted by German polling agency Civey on 5,000 Germans commissioned by Der Tagesspiegel, when asked, "Would you refuse the AstraZeneca vaccine and wait for another vaccine?" a majority of 52.0% answered, "Yes, or that would be preferable."
The reason for the avoidance of the AstraZeneca vaccine is that cases of side effects have been reported among those already vaccinated. The side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine typically include fever and headache, which usually disappear within a few days. Major foreign media reported, "The side effects of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are similar to those of AstraZeneca, including fever and fatigue."
In response, Jens Spahn, Germany's Minister of Health, said, "The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective," and added, "I will not hesitate to get vaccinated myself," but there has been little reaction on the ground.
Similar rejection of the AstraZeneca vaccine is occurring in other countries as well. Healthcare workers in France are reportedly waiting until supplies of vaccines from American pharmaceutical companies Pfizer or Moderna become available. The French daily Le Parisien reported, "While reservations for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were filled within two hours, the AstraZeneca vaccine is unpopular."
According to Bloomberg, at a hospital in France, 50-70% of medical staff who received the AstraZeneca vaccine experienced side effects. The hospital sent an official letter to health authorities stating, "Some side effects are very serious," and requested, "Please replace the AstraZeneca vaccine with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines."
There are also voices emphasizing the necessity of AstraZeneca vaccinations given Europe's relatively low vaccination rate. Bloomberg stated, "Europe's vaccination rate is lower than that of the United States or the United Kingdom," and added, "Unless the 300 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine secured by Europe are actively administered, it will be difficult to catch up with the US or UK in the near future."
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