A woman is vaccinated against COVID-19 at a center on the outskirts of Sarajevo. Bosnia has so far vaccinated just under a quarter of its 3.3 million population, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
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A woman is vaccinated against COVID-19 at a center on the outskirts of Sarajevo. Bosnia has so far vaccinated just under a quarter of its 3.3 million population, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
AP
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) – Some of the vaccine skeptics in Eastern Europe have turned to the other side like Coronavirus Infections are on the rise, countries are making it harder for unvaccinated people to travel abroad, and authorities are fighting against government distrust and misinformation about vaccines.
When she rolled up her sleeves to the Bosnian capital Sarajevo for her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Fata Keco feared possible side effects. But she said the worst she faced over the next few days was “moderately uncomfortable pain” in her left arm around the injection site.
More notably, the 52-year-old self-employed cleaner has joined the global community of vaccine believers after months of being “very sensitive” to what she describes as “reasons”. most ridiculous theory.”
She told the Associated Press that some of the people she heard from were “that the coronavirus doesn’t exist, that journalists are paid to spread panic, that planes have spread the virus on them.” us at night, that vaccines are being used by powerful people implanting in us monitoring microchips.”
“I’m relieved now that I did something to protect my health after putting myself in jeopardy for so long,” Keco said. “Also, I don’t mind that it would make my life easier if I decided to take a trip abroad.”
She’s not alone in her transformation, especially after many European countries began tightening their anti-virus rules, including requiring proof of vaccinations from travelers. foreign.
Esma Dzaka, 18, said: “I want to travel and study abroad, so I have to get vaccinated.
This week, health authorities in Sarajevo stepped up their efforts to administer a COVID-19 vaccine as widely as possible, which has so far been hampered by public distrust and attack. ferocity of misinformation. They began sending nurses to distribute vaccines at local council offices and shopping centers around the city in the hope that easy access would convince more people to get vaccinated.
Sarajevo’s top health official, Haris Vranic, said he believes some vaccine skeptics have had a change of heart recently, not only because they want to travel abroad freely, but also because “the Numbers don’t lie.”
“The statistics are clear – between 92% and 94% of those who died in the third and fourth (current) waves (of COVID-19) were not vaccinated,” Vranic said.
Bosnia, which is still struggling to recover from a brutal ethnic war in 1992-95, has so far vaccinated just under a quarter of its 3.3 million people, one of the billions. Lowest vaccination rates in Europe.
But while such a level of doubt over a vaccine, which has been widespread since late last spring, may not be surprising in poor Bosnia, corruption and ethnic division, the woes of Similar has happened to many of its Balkan neighbors, including some of the European Union. members.
In Romania, a European Union country of about 19 million people, vaccination rates hovered around 28% until mid-October, when a spike in new COVID-19 cases and deaths forced a Some hospitals have to put body bags in the hallway because the morgue is no longer available. space.
Fear – combined with more stringent anti-virus measures introduced by authorities, including a nighttime curfew and requirements for proof of vaccinations, recent recovery or recent negative test to enter most public places – has caused vaccination rates in Romania to skyrocket to more than 40%. December 10, according to Our World in Data.
Ofelia Gligor, who received her first COVID-19 shot on a cold December day this week at the main vaccination center in Sighisoara, a small, historic town in Romania. 300 km (185 mi) north of the capital Bucharest.
The 18-year-old trainee nurse had to overcome her fears for a practical reason – without proof of vaccinations she would not be allowed to attend her training program at the local hospital .
“My advice to everyone now is to get vaccinated because sooner or later vaccines will become mandatory” for everyone, she said.
A similar scenario also occurs in Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013. Against the backdrop of a large increase in the number of daily COVID-19 infections and deaths, the Croatian authorities have issued regulations Mandatory vaccination on 15 November for all public sector workers and all citizens using their services.
Despite sporadic protests against COVID-19 restrictions, Croatia’s overall vaccination rate has steadily increased by more than 1.2% per week, representing almost 55% of the population of 4.2 million as of the day December 11th.
In ethnically and administratively fragmented Bosnia, where jurisdiction over pandemic management is divided among 14 different levels of government and does not always move in one step, the adoption of vaccination cards Mandatory COVID-19 is still on hold. While the duties of wearing a mask at home and staying away from society are still in place, their enforcement is messy.
Bosnia has seen more than 12,900 deaths from COVID-19, but for some like Keco, more mortality statistics are needed to match the realities of the pandemic. It was in dispute with her daughter, Mahira.
“She said, ‘Mom, vaccines work 100%. Millions of people have been vaccinated so far and all is well, don’t be silly,'” Keco recalled, adding that his friend Her son-in-law – who “claimed he won’t be killed with the vaccine” – got infected and COVID-19 left him feeling down.”
“I finally realized that I needed to get vaccinated if I wanted to be safe,” Keco shook his head in confusion. “The people and their chatter drove me crazy. At least, I believed all their silly stories.”
