Poland’s government has accused other European Union countries of giving in to “media-fuelled panic” and “disinformation” in their decisions to suspend use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.
In recent days, a number of member states – including Germany, France, Italy and Spain – have stopped dispensing the vaccine over reports that some recipients subsequently suffered blood clots. Today, Sweden and Latvia became the latest to suspend the vaccine.
However, the World Health Organisation, the European Medicines Agency and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis have all recommended continued use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Experts say there are not enough data to justify suspending it.
They were today joined by the Polish government. Michał Dworczyk, the prime minister’s chief of staff and the official charged with overseeing Poland’s vaccine rollout, suggested that other countries had made unjustified decisions.
“Most countries that have temporarily suspended [AstraZeneca] vaccinations have given in to panic caused by media-fuelled information about alleged complications,” said Dworczyk, quoted by Polsat News. “I am convinced that many of them will soon return to vaccinations using AstraZeneca.”
“In my opinion, it is possible that we are dealing with a planned disinformation campaign and a brutal fight by medical companies, possibly supported by the countries in which these companies are registered,” continued Dworczyk. “There are many indications that actions are being taken to discredit one of the producers.”
He added that any decisions made by the Polish government would be “guided solely by hard data” and the recommendations of scientists and doctors.
“There are currently no grounds for the AstraZeneca vaccine to be suspended,” said Dworczyk. “This will be another example of the fact that Poland, by making its own decisions, by thinking, and by not following herd instinct, chose the right path.”
Yesterday, Dworczyk announced that there was some evidence of patients in Poland not turning up for planned AstraZeneca jabs following recent developments. “But it is not a mass phenomenon” yet, he added.
Like many other European countries, Poland initially restricted use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged under 60, due to concerns over a lack of data on its effects on older patients. Later, it increased the age range of recipients up to 69 years. The jab has so far mainly been given to school and university staff.
Poland has now administered more than 4.5 million doses of all coronavirus vaccines. That is equivalent to around 12 doses per 100 people, slightly above the EU-wide average of 11.3 as of 14 March.
Main image credit: Marco Verch/Flickr (under CC BY 2.0)
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
