Infox and communication failures on the AstraZeneca vaccine
Audio 04:06
Philippe Poinsot, the coordinator of the United Nations Development System in Côte d'Ivoire, is vaccinated against Covid-19 on March 22, 2021, in Abidjan.
© Benoît Gohoun - United Nations Côte d'Ivoire
By: Sophie Malibeaux
10 mins
Speeding up the vaccination campaign has become a priority for health authorities around the world, as nearly 2,900,000 people have died from Covid-19.
But informing populations is not an easy task.
A great distrust persists about the AstraZeneca vaccine, yet the most widespread, especially in Africa.
Publicity
More than 200 million people have received an injection of AstraZeneca vaccine worldwide.
If this vaccine is the most widespread at this stage, it is because it is easier to manage than others in terms of logistics, because it can be stored between 2 and 8 C °, against - 60 ° C to - 80 ° C for the Pfizer.
But it is its adverse effects - although rare - that make headlines and fuel psychosis.
This Wednesday, April 7, 2021, the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, spoke of a "
possible
"
link
between vaccination and the formation of blood clots associated with a low level of platelets, observed in people under the age of 60.
Deaths have been reported, in the United Kingdom in particular, where 19 deaths out of 20 million vaccinated have been reported, a rare phenomenon compared to the number of deaths caused by severe forms of Covid-19.
Nevertheless, the EMA, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), believe that the benefits remain far greater than the risks generated by vaccination.
Especially since at this stage, the WHO considers the link between this vaccine and certain forms of thrombosis as "
plausible
", but still to be confirmed.
The time to see more clearly on the possible effects related to the serum of the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant, it is now recommended by the EMA to list blood clots as a "
very rare
" side effect.
Differences in approach between states
Another factor fueling public mistrust of this vaccine is the differences in approach between states when it comes to prescribing this vaccine.
European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides is the first to deplore this.
She claimed in a tweet this Tuesday April 6 a "
coordinated approach
".
“
We need to speak with one voice across the EU in order to build public confidence in vaccination,
” she explained.
While the regulator does not indicate a specific risk related to age, for example, some countries recommend using it from the age of 30, others later, at 50, 55 or 60 years.
Without knowing too much on what basis these recommendations are based.
Communicate to reassure
To reassure, important personalities were therefore keen to be vaccinated in public, but, unfortunately, the demonstration did not always meet its objectives.
Since March 22, we have seen circulating on social networks an extract from a newscast in Côte d'Ivoire, where we are supposed to attend the vaccination of Philippe Poinsot, Coordinator of the United Nations Development System in Côte d'Ivoire. 'Ivory.
However, the filmed gesture does not show what we should see.
The nurse pretends to prick the arm of the UN official, but she does not inject anything, does not even press on the syringe.
Since March 22, the sequence has gone viral.
The offending excerpt is relayed on the networks, with a slow motion on the most critical moment and indignant comments: “
Look closely.
The UN representative appears to have been vaccinated;
Only the nurse forgot to press the plunger of the syringe which injects the liquid.
So the Mr was not really vaccinated - We want by deception and force to eliminate us.
"
Verification done
After verification, it turns out that the UN team and its main representative were actually vaccinated that day.
They were also photographed during and after.
They can be seen leaving the Treichville Sports Hall, holding up the pink certificate in due form.
We have had confirmation from several sources, and not just from the main stakeholders.
In addition to the vaccination certificate, photos attest to this, this time showing the injection actually performed.
Philippe Poinsot and six UN colleagues pose in front of the vaccination center at the Treichville Sports Palace, in Abidjan, after being vaccinated against Covid-19, Monday, March 22, 2021. © Benoît Gohoun - United Nations Côte d 'Ivory
The misstep exploited on the networks
So why this video clip so disturbing to say the least?
Reached by phone, the film crew pleaded the technical incident.
She was also able to film for her report the very real vaccination of other members of the team - but the camera could not capture the precise moment of the injection of the UN official, it was decided to redo the plan.
Mr. Poinsot was therefore vaccinated - for real - at first, then he lent himself to a simulation for the camera later.
Unfortunately it has been seen.
In terms of setting an example, the maneuver turned out to be counterproductive to say the least.
On the internet and on the networks, beyond the antivax, the sequence was relayed by unscrupulous media, which did not seek to know more, enough to sow doubt even among bona fide Internet users.
Others, anxious to disentangle the true from the false, like the
Benbere
site
, tried to restore the truth, by referring to the web page of the Office of the Resident Coordinator, which had to publish a press release in order to dispel the rumors.
But as often, the denial is harder to get across than the infox, which continues to circulate on the networks, in particular on WhatsApp.
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