To counter the skepticism against the AstraZeneca vaccine in Germany, a leading immunologist has spoken out in favor of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) having the preparation vaccinated live on television. The Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology, Carsten Watzl, said the British public service broadcaster BBC in a radio interview that was broadcast today.
It is already foreseeable that the Standing Vaccination Commission will also recommend the vaccine for people over 65, said Watzl. „If Angela Merkel went on live television at this point and were vaccinated with the vaccine, that would of course be great,“ said the immunologist.
The AstraZeneca vaccine has a pure PR problem, said Watzl in the interview. The German Society for Immunology will publish a statement in the coming days, „in which we clearly state the facts that this is a safe and effective vaccine for the elderly, too,“ said the scientist. But he also demanded a message from politics that people should get vaccinated.
