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We were wrong, now we've a problem! Germany has 1.2m Oxford vaccines people refuse to take
THE Chairman of a committee that advised Germany that the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be given to over-65s has admitted that the country is now having problems getting people to take the Oxford jab following their U-turn.
Professor Thomas Mertens told the BBC's Today Programme that despite Germany holding 1.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the nation has only been able to administer 240,000 doses. The German virologist added that there is a psychological problem within the nation regarding the Oxford vaccine following Germany's initial advice which stated the jab should not be given to over-65s.
The BBC's Nick Robinson asked: "How big a problem is it in Germany that people are reluctant to use the AstraZeneca vaccine?"
Professor Mertens said: "Yes it is a problem, there is no doubt.
"But as you may know, there is a psychological problem too and it will take some time to reach this goal."
The Today Programme host replied: "There are some that partly blame the advice from your committee, you issued advice saying there was not enough data to give the vaccine to over-65s.
"Do you accept that people read that, perhaps wrongly, as you saying it is not safe?"
The German virologist responded: "It may be part of the problem."
Germany and France both publicly questioned the efficacy of AstraZeneca's vaccine in people over the age of 65.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed the AstraZeneca vaccine on Wednesday.
Ms von der Leyen said: "I would be vaccinated with the vaccine from AstraZeneca just as safely as with the products from BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna.
"When we started looking for the most promising out of the hundreds of candidates ten months ago, we assumed an effectiveness of between 50 and 70 percent.
"Now everyone is above that. "The vaccine has been carefully examined, found to be safe and effective, and approved."
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...us-news-Oxford-Covid19-latest-update-video-vn
THE Chairman of a committee that advised Germany that the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be given to over-65s has admitted that the country is now having problems getting people to take the Oxford jab following their U-turn.
Professor Thomas Mertens told the BBC's Today Programme that despite Germany holding 1.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the nation has only been able to administer 240,000 doses. The German virologist added that there is a psychological problem within the nation regarding the Oxford vaccine following Germany's initial advice which stated the jab should not be given to over-65s.
The BBC's Nick Robinson asked: "How big a problem is it in Germany that people are reluctant to use the AstraZeneca vaccine?"
Professor Mertens said: "Yes it is a problem, there is no doubt.
"But as you may know, there is a psychological problem too and it will take some time to reach this goal."
The Today Programme host replied: "There are some that partly blame the advice from your committee, you issued advice saying there was not enough data to give the vaccine to over-65s.
"Do you accept that people read that, perhaps wrongly, as you saying it is not safe?"
The German virologist responded: "It may be part of the problem."
Germany and France both publicly questioned the efficacy of AstraZeneca's vaccine in people over the age of 65.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed the AstraZeneca vaccine on Wednesday.
Ms von der Leyen said: "I would be vaccinated with the vaccine from AstraZeneca just as safely as with the products from BioNTech/Pfizer or Moderna.
"When we started looking for the most promising out of the hundreds of candidates ten months ago, we assumed an effectiveness of between 50 and 70 percent.
"Now everyone is above that. "The vaccine has been carefully examined, found to be safe and effective, and approved."
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...us-news-Oxford-Covid19-latest-update-video-vn
