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– Many Europeans are desperate for a vaccine against the coronavirus. But not just any vaccine. As AstraZeneca injections roll out to European Union countries this month, joining the doses of Pfizer and Moderna already available, some people are finding it difficult to be offered a vaccine that they can – reasonably or not – be on a second best regard. Poland began vaccinating teachers with the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, the AP reports, and some had doubts about qualifying for a vaccine that they think is less effective than the others. A Warsaw educator, who was infected in November and was slowly recovering, said no one at her school was excited about getting the AstraZeneca injection. But many have signed up, longing for some protection from the virus. “I still fear the disease more than the AstraZeneca vaccine,” she said. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot acknowledged the criticism, but said regulators had reviewed the data and deemed the vaccine safe and effective. ‘Is it perfect? No, it’s not perfect, but it’s great, ”Soriot said on Thursday. “We’re going to save thousands of lives.”
Although regulators in more than 50 countries and the EU drug watchdog have allowed the widespread use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine, it has received the most criticism for concerns about the human trials. Several European countries recommend the drug only for people under 65, and other countries recommend it for people under 55, because AstraZeneca’s trials involve a relatively small number of elderly people. The WHO says the vaccine is about 63% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses. That’s less than the 95% effectiveness reported by Pfizer and Moderna, but experts caution against comparisons as the studies were conducted at different times and under different conditions. But in Poland, Spain, and Italy, some unions complained that their members would receive the product, expressing concern that they were treated as less important than groups receiving the Pfizer or Moderna doses. Some Italian doctors are refusing the admissions, saying they want Pfizer or Moderna admissions for public health workers. A teacher in Poland said, “This is another example of how we are shown our place.” (AstraZeneca’s vaccine will now be tested on children.)