Loose Talk Can Cost Lives

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been fully approved as a protection for Covid-19 by the European Medicines Agency. There has, however, been much griping from politicians in France and Germany about the vaccine's a) availability (not much point if they don't want to use it), b) appropriateness for people over 65 and c) possible side effects. Their populations are now distinctively unenthusiastic about the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/fury-as-french-and-german-citizens-reject-astrazeneca-vaccine-after-macron-scaremongering/ar-BB1dTD1k ). There is a long tradition of vaccine-resistance in France and Germany. One might, consequently, reasonably pose the question 'What did the politicians expect would be the response to their words?' A clear illustration of the actual outcome, can be seen in the experience of the Tegel vaccination centre in Berlin. The centre exclusively uses the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. On some days, only 200 people turn up for the scheduled 3,800 daily appointments. In addition, health workers, in France (who one would expect to be better informed than the general population), appear intent on waiting for the Pfizer vaccine. This is all very sad, as it further slows the EU's mass vaccination programme. Vaccine is available and it could be saving lives as well as reducing the generation of new Covid-19 variants.