Module 6

04/10/2024

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine did impact vaccine uptake in various countries: Issue Management – Impact to Supply 1. Pausing and Hesitancy : Several European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, temporarily paused the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to concerns about rare blood clots. This led to increased vaccine hesitancy and a slight decrease in vaccine uptake in these countries. 2. Public Confidence : The suspensions and mixed messages about the vaccine’s safety affected public confidence. In the UK, for example, vaccine hesitancy was notably higher among certain demographic groups, including people from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. 3. Comparative Uptake : Studies comparing countries that paused the AstraZeneca vaccine to those that did not, found a small decrease in uptake for both the first and second doses in countries that paused the vaccine. These factors highlight the importance of clear communication and consistent messaging in maintaining public trust in vaccination programs. For Pfizer/BioNTech while their issues did impact the rollout and required careful management, they did not lead to the same level of public hesitancy seen with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

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It is estimated that approximately 5% of all hospital admissions in Europe are due to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Additionally, about 5% of hospitalised patients experience an ADR during their stay. These reactions are a significant concern as they can lead to serious health complications and are considered one of the leading causes of hospital admissions and in-hospital deaths. Risks with medicines are more common than we might think

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