Europeans’ confidence in AstraZeneca / Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine has plummeted in the past two weeks, amid concerns about possible side effects, a YouGov opinion study released Monday revealed.
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The vaccine is perceived as more dangerous than safe in Germany, France, Spain and Italy, indicates this study carried out between March 12 and 18.
Its use had been suspended in several countries for fear that it would cause blood clots, sometimes fatal. On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) deemed it “safe and effective” and its use has resumed in several countries, but the impact on public opinion has been felt, YouGov underlines.
“Not only have we seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who consider it unsafe over the past two weeks in Europe, but the AstraZeneca vaccine continues to be viewed as significantly less safe than those from Pfizer and Moderna,” commented Matt. Smith, reporter for YouGov in a statement.
“With a third wave of infections potentially emerging on the other side of the Channel, the authorities will be concerned [à savoir] whether the ongoing disputes over AstraZeneca’s vaccine will hinder its deployment, ”he continued.
In France, mistrust of the AstraZeneca vaccine has increased sharply: 61% of people who responded believe it is not safe (+18 points compared to a study carried out in February), against only 23 % who deem it safe. In Germany, 55% of respondents consider it dangerous (+ 15%).
In Italy and Spain, where a majority of respondents previously believed the vaccine to be safe (54% and 59% respectively), these numbers have dropped to 36% and 38%, lower than those who believe it is “unsafe” .
In the United Kingdom, on the other hand, more than three quarters of respondents trust the vaccine of the Swedish-British group, even if this percentage has slightly eroded, falling to 77% (-4).
In Sweden, more people consider AstraZeneca’s vaccine to be safe (43%) than not (34%), while the Danes are divided (42% believe it is safe and 42% consider it not. sure).
Confidence in the safety of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has not changed.
The study was conducted among 1,672 British adults, 2,024 German adults, 1,022 French adults, 1,016 Italian adults, 1,050 Spanish adults, 1,004 Danish adults and 1,017 Swedish adults.