WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Many Europeans are desperate for a coronavirus vaccine. But not just any vaccine.
As astraZeneca launches in the European Union this month, joining the Pfizer and Moderna doses already available, some people oppose being offered a vaccine that they perceive – quite or not – as the second most good.
Poland began vaccinating teachers on Friday with the AstraZeneca vaccine, and some had doubts about the line-up for a vaccine they consider less effective than others.
Ewelina Jankowska, the principal of a high school and mayor of the Wilanow district in southern Warsaw, said no one at her school was enthusiastic about getting the AstraZeneca shot, although many signed up, eager for any protection against a life-threatening virus. and students. ‘school.
“I’m still more afraid of the disease than the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Jankowska, who became infected with COVID-19 in November and had a very slow recovery.
AstraZeneca, an Anglo-Swedish company, has developed its vaccine with the University of Oxford. While regulators in more than 50 countries, including the EU Drugs Authority, have authorized widespread use, it has drawn more criticism than others because of concerns about its human studies.
Several European countries have recommended the drug only for people under the age of 65, and other countries have recommended it for those under the age of 55, because AstraZeneca studies included a relatively small number of older people.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot acknowledged the criticism, but said regulators analyzed the data and said the vaccine was safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines are insufficient, he said, and the AstraZeneca shot provides high levels of protection against severe disease, which is the most important milestone in fighting a virus that has killed more than 2.3 million people worldwide.
“It’s perfect? No, it’s not perfect, but it’s wonderful, “Soriot said on Thursday. “We will save thousands of lives and that’s why we come to work every day.”
The World Health Organization says that the AstraZeneca vaccine is approximately 63% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses. This is less than the 95% efficiency reported by Pfizer and Moderna, but experts warn against such comparisons, as the studies were done at different times and under different conditions. In addition, they have all been shown to be extremely effective in preventing serious illness and death.
“If you are given an approved vaccine, get it,” said Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “Everyone was found safe. Vaccines are the way for the world to return to a kind of normalcy. “
French President Emmanuel Macron annoyed scientists last month when he called the AstraZeneca vaccine “almost ineffective” for people over 65 – a comment that came hours before the European Medicines Agency approved it. said it could be used for all adults, including those over 65. Those who criticized Macron claimed to have spoken irresponsibly and encouraged skepticism about the vaccine.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran, 40, said this week that the AstraZeneca vaccine would show the government’s confidence in it for people under 65.
To the problems of AstraZeneca were added the EU’s criticisms of the lack of deliveries, the lack of its approval in the US and a preliminary study that raised questions about the vaccine’s ability to combat a COVID-19 variant discovered in South Africa. In its favor, however, is that it is cheaper and can be stored at refrigerator temperature – not at the much lower temperatures required for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
In Cyprus, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou warned that opting for one risks delaying vaccinations, given limited deliveries of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in the coming weeks, and noted that “all three vaccines drastically reduce hospitalizations and deaths.”
However, in Poland, Spain and Italy, some unions have complained that their members will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, expressing concern that they are being treated as less important than the groups receiving the Pfizer or Moderna doses.
Police unions in Spain have expressed concern over the government’s decision to administer AstraZeneca shots to police, military, firefighters and teachers.
Some Italian private sector doctors are refusing AstraZeneca shots, saying they want Pfizer or Moderna shots to reach public health workers.
“I’m definitely not an AstraZeneca. But for a population at risk, health workers should use the same vaccination strategy for everyone and not create any discrimination, “said Dr. Paolo Mezzana, a plastic surgeon in Rome who helps manage a group. by private doctors on Facebook. They have refused to accept the AstraZeneca shot after vaccinations began this week.
In Poland, the government announced earlier this month that the planned delivery of more than 1 million doses of AstraZeneca meant teachers could get photos early, as the vaccine will not be given to older adults.
But instead of expressing his relief, the head of the main teachers’ union, Slawomir Broniarz, criticized the use of the vaccine in remarks which, in turn, were set on fire by scientists and the government.
Michal Dworczyk, who is leading the government’s vaccination efforts, said he regretted “the fact that some irresponsible politicians or unions have tried to scare teachers or cause such anxiety by providing false information about the AstraZeneca vaccine”.
However, a sense of disrespect has set in among teachers, who have already been in conflict with the government for years over low wages and unpopular reforms.
Patrycja Swistowska, who teaches second grade at Wilanow School, said she enrolled in the AstraZeneca shooting despite her fears and confusion.
“I feel that teachers are treated a little worse and this is the vaccine they gave us. They didn’t give us the vaccines given to doctors and other professional groups, “said Swistowska, 39.” I’m disoriented and I don’t feel good about it. We are paid worse and this is just another example of our place. ”
In Italy, the head of the SAP police union, Stefano Paoloni, claimed that if officers believe they receive a less effective vaccine through police forces, they can give up and wait to receive another shot later, when the rest of the population is vaccinated. This would defeat the strategy of vaccinating as many people at risk as possible as soon as possible.
Some unions go ahead with the launch of AstraZeneca without complaining, reflecting gratitude for any protection.
Dr. Arianna Patricarca, a 52-year-old Italian dentist who received the AstraZeneca shot on Thursday, called it “a great opportunity and I’m very happy I did it.”
Warsaw preschool principal Agnieszka Grabowska also welcomed receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday.
“It’s a great relief,” said Grabowska, 48, adding that she was exhausted after a year of pandemic.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment all year,” she said.
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Winfield reported from Rome. Associated Press writers Danica Kirka of London; Aritz Parra in Madrid; Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus; Angela Charlton in Paris; and Monika Scislowska from Warsaw contributed.
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