Dear Ms. Theodoridou, Mr. Kikilias, and Mr. Themistokleous,
When on April 20 By the time I received my first dose of the Oxford vaccine, public debate about its potential side effects had already become widespread. I, too, was being “bombarded” with questions and comments from listeners of my show on Real FM and friends on social media about the vaccine. People with questions, fears, and reservations—even vaccine skeptics and conspiracy theorists—who, whether well-meaning or ill-intentioned, were hesitant and worried.
I didn’t have much to say to them. I was guided by the voice of (my own) reason and the assurances of the experts—your own assurances. I relayed what the representatives of the National Vaccination Committee were saying—whose expertise I respected and continue to respect. In fact, I was asked whether I would get that particular vaccine, and, without a second thought, I replied “Yes.”.
The truth is—I can admit it– that I would have preferred to get a vaccine from another company. I didn't get one. When I accepted the first appointment (I was notified via the app that I was in the 18–59 age group due to my medical history) and navigated the platform, I realized from the date of the second dose that I would be getting the Oxford vaccine. I thought about it for just a moment; I admit I asked my doctor, but I went ahead with it.
I didn’t change my ZIP codes, nor did I go to the pharmacy to look for another vaccine. In fact, someone I turned to—he knows who he is—replied jokingly and referred me to… Angela Merkel, who had been vaccinated with AstraZeneca that very day. “It’s okay,” I said. “I’m not falling for the mass nonsense spouted by the media.” And I moved on.
A short time later, I took issue with his statement Alexis Tsipras about “cleaning house.” Not because I thought he was wrong, but because I believed we didn’t need to contribute -those of us who speak in public– the confusion and hesitation that naturally arose from the management of the vaccination program. It was then that the government decided not to allow travel (which we were all waiting for as eagerly as a thirsty person waits for two drops of water) for Easter, and the prime minister offered, as a “compensation,” vaccination for the 30–39 age group with that specific vaccine.
This was followed, as I recall, by a media frenzy over the “trust” of younger people and their participation in the vaccination campaign—with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
That excitement has faded, and the rate has dropped to 20%! The situation is roughly the same in the other age groups for the same vaccine.
They came after the blood clots –mainly in Crete-, and some unexplained deaths, some of which were found to have a “causal link” to the vaccine. During the same period, a criminally irresponsible Europe “played around” with the age limits above and below which it granted access to the vaccine. This was followed by the decision to exclude that particular company from future supplies and the Brussels bureaucracy’s commitment to Mr. Bourla’s Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
In the mind of the average citizen –who, on the one hand, was terrified by the idea of death, illness, and ICUs, and on the other, was desperate to escape the darkness of Covid through vaccination– everything… a mess.
I got my second dose today. And yesterday you decided to recommend this to people under 60 -to whom I belong– Do not get this particular vaccine! But those who had their second dose scheduled should definitely get it. What has changed? The viral load, as you explained. In other words, a month ago, when the risk of getting sick was higher, we were right to get the AstraZeneca vaccine; now that the risk has decreased, it’s best to avoid it.
Do you think all of this makes sense to any citizen who wants to trust the experts but, at the same time, possesses common sense and legitimate concerns?;
Can you imagine how he feels when he watches these TV news reports—often set to background music that sounds like… a thriller—or how he feels when he sees the scientists themselves struggling to explain these decisions on TV?;
“Kathimerini” refers to “confusion” for which you are responsible, the “prosecutors” who convicted Tsipras for “unloading” now say he was right (unfortunately), and we all feel that what’s happening doesn’t make sense.
Many people feel offended, are puzzled, or feel foolish (not to mention that other word…). I’m not asking anyone for an “apology,” because I’ve learned to usually ask for something I can actually get, but don’t you feel the need to say something more than just the clichés you usually spout?;
I got the AstraZeneca vaccine. I’ll pick up the certificate tomorrow, too. I don’t know, though, if I would have chosen this path had I known what was to come. Is Europe to blame? Yes, it is. But you can’t always blame someone else…
P.S. Now that cases of pericarditis associated with other vaccines are being reported, I hope you won’t make the same mistake. Please explain this clearly and in a timely manner…
And to further support this:
Good morning, everyone. I just got my second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine!
AZ Limited Edition… pic.twitter.com/CTyRK2XPVj— Kotrotsos Serafeim (@serkot65) June 15, 2021
By Seraphim Kotrotsos
