Confusion in communication: Europeans have not yet heard clear news about the AstraZeneca vaccine

The message from both agencies appears to be that there is a “possible” link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots, but that such side effects are “very rare” and that the vaccine can continue to be used in all adults.

But the tone is still different. In London, officials made it clear that UK residents aged 30 and under should, whenever possible, receive a vaccine from another manufacturer.

But the VAS has only listed blood clots as a rare side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine and has not introduced new restrictions on the use of the vaccine in people over 18 years of age; it is up to the EU member states to decide for themselves. .

What are the benefits and risks?

Since consistent and clear communication is half the battle in a battle against a pandemic, experts now speak of a communication nightmare. For example, the Hungarian Zsolt Sandor practically shrugged his shoulders on Twitter: “Tomorrow I will receive the AZ vaccine. I’m 38 years old and I’m confused. “

Both the EU and UK services have issued recommendations emphasizing that the AstraZeneca vaccine is still very, very useful. Emer Cooke, EEA Director, explained: “COVID-19 causes thousands of deaths every day across the EU. This vaccine has been shown to be very effective. Life jacket “.

The benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to British experts, have outweighed the risks.

But in the UK, where coronavirus infections are much lower, researchers calculate quite differently.

According to them, currently a young person has less risk of becoming infected with coronavirus than vaccination and the possibility of potentially fatal blood clots. In other words, the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to British experts, have outweighed the risks.

Of course, many EU countries, where vaccination is much slower than in Britain and COVID-19 infections are on the rise again, have a harder time making decisions, especially as many countries have built heavily for AstraZeneca. Also, vaccines are more questionable in Europe in general.

Messages – simultaneously

Most importantly, EVA’s attempt to confidently infuse the AstraZeneca vaccine was immediately accompanied by decisions by the parties to show that the effect was the opposite.

Here, Belgium immediately announced that AstraZeneca would no longer be administered to people under the age of 56 for the next four weeks. The Belgians thus joined Germany and France, and on Wednesday evening Italy and Spain also announced a vaccination restriction for the elderly.

In the UK, for their part, observers immediately began to express concern about the possible impact on the vaccination process.

Belgium immediately announced that AstraZeneca will no longer be administered to people under the age of 56 for the next four weeks.

“I am concerned that this MRHA report increases mistrust towards the AstraZeneca vaccine. If it is open, it will cause a lot of problems because it is this vaccine that is currently used. We should speak of a real blow for people who get vaccinated,” he told Politico Tori Iain Duncan Smith’s former leader.

For the UK, things have gone so far so far. People were told briefly and clearly not to be afraid of anything, to go get vaccinated.

But on Monday night, Channel 4 reported quite unexpectedly that the MHRA was preparing to vaccinate younger people with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The service has yet to respond just to wait, but on Wednesday it announced precisely such a restriction.

Incidentally, the EEA and MHRA press conferences took place at the same time, and both journalists and experts were surprised that the conclusions continued to differ, as no restrictions were mentioned by EU officials. British officials later said that the government was well aware that the statements would cross.

In France, a third of vaccines were canceled

“It’s bad that uncoordinated action only makes things worse. Unfortunately, both parties couldn’t agree or decide what to say. Now the messages are different and people don’t know what to think anymore,” says Duncan Smith.

So far, the British have been proud of their vaccination program: more than 46 percent have already received at least one vaccine. population of the country. There are relatively few skeptics in the country who doubt vaccines.

True, there are more concerns among women, and since the AstraZeneca vaccine appears to pose a greater risk to women, officials are concerned about who will wait for the vaccination rate. Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains calm and reiterates: “This vaccine is safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives.”

Opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer also brushed off partisan politics when he said: “The first dose they gave me was the AstraZeneca vaccine. I look forward to the second and will accept it as soon as it is offered. “

On the other hand, British private ministers and their advisers acknowledge that posts on Twitter and various press conferences will not be enough. New communication campaigns are already being prepared.

As for the European Union, the interesting situation is maturing in France, where there is a long tradition of questioning the benefits of vaccines. Le Monde announced on Tuesday, before EVA announced its decision, that in the first week of April alone, 30 percent had been canceled. Planned vaccinations with AstraZeneca.

It is up to the parties to decide

Of course, it must be said that the role of the EEA is only advisory. It is up to national governments to decide on the use of one or the other vaccine.

“How vaccines are used in different Member States will be determined by the number of doses, local infection rates, hospital occupancy, the number of people already vaccinated,” explained Peter Arlett, head of the Working Group on EEA on data analysis and methods. “Decisions will be made by all of these factors combined.”

Health Commissioner Stela Kiriakides said late Wednesday that the EU should speak with one voice on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and said member states should harmonize the recommendations they publish.

“Decisions on national vaccination campaigns always depend on you, the Member States. But it is important that Lava coordinates the European approach, so that it does not disturb citizens and does not raise doubts about vaccines, so that it is based on science. Kiriakides said.

As mentioned, Belgium and other countries quickly decided that the use of AstraZeneca for younger people was immediately restricted.

Furthermore, decisions seem to have been made earlier, without waiting for the often clumsy EVA; after all, blood clot anxiety started ringing in early March.

“The EEA decision should have been published earlier. Experts from various member states acted faster,” said Peter Liese, a German MEP.

Lithuania will continue vaccination with the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine without restriction, vaccinators will be informed about the signs to be monitored, Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys announced on Wednesday.