According to a survey by IDRA, a research and development consulting agency which operates in the Balkan region, the majority of Albanians do not want to take the COVID-19 vaccine, once it comes out.
54% of the respondents replied “most likely not” or “absolutely not” when asked if they would go for the vaccine once it is approved.
Meanwhile 19% said they want to be vaccinated.
Sceptics were then asked on the main reasons behind why they’re refusing the shot.
More than half the them (53%) responded due to fear of side effects, 20% said they are against vaccines in principle, while 11% doubted its efficiency.
In September, Albanian joined the COVAX mechanism in order to have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, once it is approved.
By doing so, the Albanian government committed to financially assist the procurement of the vaccine together with 170 other states, including here EU countries.
“The COVAX mechanism will give us access to the vaccine once it is officially safe to be used”, added Najada Çomo, the head of the Infective Disease hospital.
By the end of August, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen vowed to support the program by according €400 million, meanwhile appealed to EU countries to engage in the program.
Accordingly, by the time the vaccine will developed, states will be able to receive enough vaccines to cover at least 20% of the population, initially on the most vulnerable age groups as well as healthcare workers.
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