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Vaccines

European Countries' Decision on AstraZeneca Vaccine May Exacerbate Covid-19 Infections

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the virus continues to spread rapidly in mainland Europe, AstraZeneca's chief executive, Pascal Soriot, believes that the decision not to use the company's Covid-19 vaccine among elderly people in some European countries could be contributing to the high levels of infections. Soriot suggested that the vaccine's ability to stimulate T-cell immunity may provide more durable immune protection against the virus. In contrast, the UK's early vaccine rollout included vaccination of older people, which may help explain the relatively low hospitalization rates in the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The decision by some European countries to recommend not giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to those over 65 may have exacerbated the spread of Covid-19 in mainland Europe.
  • AstraZeneca's chief executive, Pascal Soriot, believes that the vaccine's ability to stimulate T-cell immunity may provide more durable immune protection against the virus.
  • The UK's early vaccine rollout, which included vaccination of older people, may have contributed to relatively low hospitalization rates in the country.
  • Professor Danny Altmann, a leading immunologist, expressed skepticism about attributing the differential shape of the curves for the surges of infection in the UK and other European countries to a single factor, including the vaccine choice.
  • Germany was the first European country to recommend not giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to those over 65 in late January, citing a lack of efficacy data for the vaccine in this age group.
  • Other European countries, including Italy, France, Poland, and Sweden, followed suit with similar recommendations, although many later reversed this guidance following the publication of further efficacy data.
  • Dame Kate Bingham, former chair of the UK vaccine taskforce, wrote in the Times that the UK's jab rollout would have been delayed if it had been left to the normal workings of Whitehall.

Statistics:

  • 65 or older: the age group for which some European countries initially recommended not giving the AstraZeneca vaccine.
  • January 2022: the month in which Germany first recommended not giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to those over 65.
  • 20-30: the percentage of people in some European countries who were initially reluctant to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine due to mixed messages about its efficacy.
  • UK: the country that vaccinated older people early on during the vaccine rollout, which may have contributed to relatively low hospitalization rates.

Sources:

  • Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca's chief executive (BBC Radio 4's Today programme)
  • Dame Kate Bingham, former chair of the UK vaccine taskforce (The Times)
  • Professor Danny Altmann, immunologist (BBC Radio 4's Today programme)
  • Germany's health ministry (late January 2022)

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