(Newser)
– Many Europeans are desperate for a coronavirus vaccine. But not just any vaccine. As AstraZeneca’s features are spreading to European Union nations this month and joining the doses of Pfizer and Moderna that are already available, some people are refusing to be offered a vaccine that they consider – quite or not — like the second best. Poland began vaccinating teachers on Friday with the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to the AP, and some had suspicions about putting a vaccine online that they believe is less effective than others. A Warsaw educator, who became infected in November and slowly recovered, said no one at her school was excited about getting the AstraZeneca shot. But many signed up, eager for any protection from the virus. “I still fear the disease more than the AstraZeneca vaccine,” he said. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot acknowledged the criticism, but said regulators had reviewed the data and considered the vaccine to be safe and effective. “Is it perfect? No, it’s not perfect, but it’s fantastic,” Soriot said Thursday. “We will save thousands of lives.”
Although regulators in more than 50 countries and the EU drug watchdog have authorized widespread use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine, it has been the most talked about due to concerns about its trials in humans. Several European countries recommend the drug only for children under 65 and other countries recommend it for children under 55, as AstraZeneca trials included a relatively small number of older people. The WHO says the vaccine is approximately 63% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses. This is less than the 95% efficacy reported by Pfizer and Moderna, but experts warn against comparisons, as the studies were done at different times and under different conditions. But in Poland, Spain and Italy, some unions complained that their members were expected to receive the product, expressing concern that they would be treated as less important than groups receiving doses of Pfizer or Moderna. Some Italian doctors are rejecting the shots, saying they want Pfizer or Moderna shots for public health workers. A professor in Poland said: “This is one more example of how our place is shown to us.” (AstraZeneca vaccine will now be tested in children.)