Citizens' Confidence In AZ Jab Sinks Following Erroneous Blood Clot Scare

Latest YouGov polling shows a concerning decline in European public confidence in the safety of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine following the scare caused by EU member state governments and domestic health agencies having called into question the safety of the vaccine in relation to blood clot issues.

• Last Thursday the EMA confirmed that there was no reason to stop the rollout of the vaccine, stating that 'the benefits [of taking the vaccine] outweigh the risks'.
• However, the damage in public perceptions was already done it would seem.
• YouGov: 'From your knowledge of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine how safe, or unsafe, do you think the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is?': France - Safe 23% (-10) / Unsafe 61% (+18), Italy-Safe 36% (-18) / Unsafe 43% (+27), Germany - Safe 32% (-11) / Unsafe 55% (+15), Spain - Safe 38% (-21) / Unsafe 52% (+27). Fieldwork 15-18 Mar, chgs w/ 23 Feb-2 Mar.
• Even in the UK, generally one of the least vaccine-skeptic countries in Europe, the confidence in the AZ jab has declined marginally. UK - Safe 77% (-4) / Unsafe 9% (+4).
• Declining confidence in vaccine rollouts in Europe risks large swathes of the population remaining vulnerable to COVID-19, increasing the prospect of lengthy lockdowns to control the spread and having a significant knock-on effect on the economic recovery in Europe.