Compulsory vaccine is the worst thing, says virologist

“The worst thing you can do is make the vaccine compulsory,” virologist Marc Van Ranst told VRT Niews.

“That’s fuel to the anti-vaccine movement, as it’s what they’ve been warning about for years. It would send a very bad signal,” he added.

According to figures from Belgium’s public health institute Sciensano, 50% of people surveyed would certainly get vaccinated, 17% would not, and 33% are in doubt.

“The 17% who will not be vaccinated is not a problem”, he explained. “But you will have to convince the other 33%. And from the past, you learn that you will eventually persuade those people. That will work.”

The issue of whether vaccination for COVID-19 should be mandatory or voluntary in order to achieve the highest possible vaccination rates has taken centre stage lately.

A recent worldwide poll found mixed feelings among EU member states. In Poland and Hungary, 56% of those surveyed said they would get a vaccine, and 59% in France. In Spain, the percentage is 72% while in Great Britain it is 85%.

Only in China, an overwhelming majority (97%) would get the vaccine.

For Andrea Ammon, head of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), there is a need for a mix of approaches depending on the context and circumstances of each country.

Debate over building confidence in COVID-19 vaccine heats up

EU stakeholders are exploring ways to build up confidence in a future COVID-19 vaccine, after polls across the world have suggested that the public opinion still is not convinced.

(Alexandra Brzozowski, Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)