WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Many Europeans are desperate for a coronavirus vaccine. But not just any vaccine.
As AstraZeneca shots roll out to European Union countries this month, joining the already available doses of Pfizer and Moderna, some people do not want a vaccine that they – reasonably or not – consider the second best.
Poland vaccinated teachers with the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, and some have reservations about setting up a vaccine that they say is less effective than others.
Ewelina Jankowska, the director of a primary and high school in the southern Wilanow district of Warsaw, said no one in her school was enthusiastic about getting the AstraZeneca shot, although many people enrolled and were eager for any protection. against a virus that has uprooted their lives and their students. schooling.
“I still fear the disease more than the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Jankowska, who was infected with COVID-19 in November and recovered very slowly.
AstraZeneca, an Anglo-Swedish company, developed its vaccine at the University of Oxford. While regulators in more than 50 countries, including the EU Drug Enforcement Administration, have approved its widespread use, it has drawn more criticism than others due to concerns about human trials.
Several European countries have recommended the drug only for people under 65, and other countries have recommended it for those under 55, because AstraZeneca’s trials include a relatively small number of older people.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot acknowledged the criticism, but said regulators had reviewed the data and considered the vaccine safe and effective. There is a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, and the AstraZeneca shot offers high levels of protection against serious diseases, which is the most important measure to combat a virus that has killed more than 2.3 million people worldwide.
“Is it perfect? “No, it’s not perfect, but it’s great,” Soriot said on Thursday. “We are going to save thousands of lives and that is why we come to work every day.”
The World Health Organization says the AstraZeneca vaccine is approximately 63% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses. This is less than the 95% effectiveness reported by Pfizer and Moderna, but experts warn against such comparisons, as the studies were conducted at different times and under different conditions. Furthermore, all proved to be extremely effective in preventing serious diseases and death.
“If you have been offered any approved vaccine, take it,” said Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “They were found safe. Vaccines are the world’s return to a kind of normality. ”
French President Emmanuel Macron angered scientists last month when he called the AstraZeneca vaccine ‘quasi-ineffective’ for people over 65 – a remark that came hours before the European Medicines Agency approved it and said has that it can be used for all adults, including those over 65. Those who criticized Macron argued that he spoke irresponsibly and encouraged skepticism against vaccines.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran, 40, pointed out this week that the AstraZeneca vaccine should show the government’s confidence in it for those under 65.
The EU’s criticism of delivery shortages, the lack of approval in the US, and a preliminary study that raised questions about the vaccine’s ability to detect a COVID-19 variant discovered in South Africa added to AstraZeneca’s issues. In his favor, however, is that it is cheaper and can be stored at refrigerator temperatures – not the much colder temperatures that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require.
In Cyprus, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou warned that choosing one over the other could delay vaccination, given the limited delivery of Pfizer and Modern vaccines in the coming weeks, noting that “all three vaccines drastically reduced hospitalizations and deaths. “
Yet, in Poland, Spain and Italy, some unions have complained that their members would receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, and have stated that they are treated less importantly than groups receiving the dose of Pfizer or Moderna.
Police unions in Spain have expressed concern over a government decision to fire AstraZeneca shots at police, army, firefighters and teachers.
Some Italian doctors in the private sector are taking down AstraZeneca shots, saying they want the Pfizer or Moderna shots to go to public health workers.
‘I’m not an AstraZeneca not growing. But for an endangered population, health workers, they should use the same vaccination strategy for everyone and not create discrimination, “said Dr. Paolo Mezzana, a plastic surgeon in Rome who helps administer a Facebook group of private doctors. to accept the AstraZeneca shot after vaccination began this week.
In Poland, the government announced earlier this month that the planned delivery of more than 1 million doses of AstraZeneca means teachers could get their shots ahead of schedule because the vaccine would not be given to older adults.
But instead of giving relief, the head of the main trade union for teachers, Slawomir Broniarz, criticized the use of the vaccine in remarks which in turn came under fire from scientists and the government.
Michal Dworczyk, who is leading the government’s vaccination effort, said he regretted it “that some irresponsible politicians or unions were trying to scare teachers or cause such anxiety by giving false information about the AstraZeneca vaccine.”
Yet a sense of misconduct has set in among teachers, who have 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 for the AstraZeneca shot despite her fear and confusion.
‘I feel that teachers are being treated a little worse, and that is the vaccine they have offered us. They did not offer us the vaccines that were given to doctors and other professional groups, “said Swistowska (39). ‘I’m disoriented and do not feel good about it. We are paid less and this is just another example of the fact that we are being shown. our place. ‘
In Italy, the head of the SAP police union, Stefano Paoloni, argued that if officers believe they are getting a less effective vaccine through the police force, they can withdraw it and wait to get another chance later when the rest of the population vaccinated. This will inoculate the strategy to endanger as many people as quickly as possible.
Some unions continue to roll out AstraZeneca without complaining, reflecting gratitude for getting any protection.
Dr. Arianna Patricarca, a 52-year-old Italian dentist who received the AstraZeneca shot on Thursday, called it “a wonderful opportunity and I’m very glad I did.”
Warsaw preschool director Agnieszka Grabowska also welcomed the reception of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“It’s a great relief,” said Grabowska, 48, adding that she was exhausted after a year of the pandemic.
“I’ve been waiting for this all year,” she said.
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Winfield reports from Rome. Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London; Aritz Parra in Madrid; Menelaus Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus; Angela Charlton in Paris; and Monika Scislowska contributed in Warsaw.
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