Filenews 25 June 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
We risk dividing society citizens into vaccinated and unvaccinated and this will only cause harm", stresses in "F" the Professor of Sociology and member of the Advisory Scientific Committee Konstantinos Fellas while the head of the EES assistant Professor of Pathology Konstantinos Tsioutis, stresses that "the outbreak of cases that is currently being observed should not surprise us" and analysing the reasons why the epidemic logical indicators are gradually increasing, making it clear that "it is not a person's fault, an area, a celebration or event. We must all understand this: We have a pandemic."
Fatigue, complacency, relaxes, increased contacts, the impression given in recent weeks that we have achieved our objectives to a huge extent in terms of vaccination coverage of the population, the shift of tests to a specific group of the population and the lack of proper communication with citizens who are reluctant to be vaccinated , "they are components that have contributed, all together, to the deterioration of the situation and this was to be expected since all these 'ingredients' existed," says the head of the EES.
For his part, the Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Scientific Advisor of the Ministry of Health on issues related to vaccination against the coronavirus, Christos Petrou, suggests that "we need to find a way to reach citizens who have not been vaccinated. The campaign that took place in the past few months no longer makes sense, the data has changed."
Explaining sociologically the situation as it has been in the last 24 hours following the deterioration of epidemiological data, Contantinos Fellas stresses that "we are in a pandemic and the deterioration of epidemiological indicators, while the pandemic is ongoing should be considered at all times expected". Unfortunately, Mr. Fellas said, "in the last two days we have seen a scene of division and an effort which, although aimed at persuading citizens to be vaccinated, but at the same time people who have not been vaccinated may receive it as an attack against them".
"It's not us and them. They're not the vaccinated, the good and the unvaccinated are the bad guys. If we divide society, we will only cause harm. It must be our duty as a scientific community, but also the Government, to reach out to people who are reluctant to be vaccinated. Ask them why they are not vaccinated, what worries them, listen to them and then find a way to inform them properly because sometimes people are afraid because they don't have all the data in front of them or because they are misinformed about certain things."
The fact that most new incidents in recent times concern unvaccinated citizens must in no way lead us to the creation of two rival camps. If we do this, we will cultivate fear and fanaticism and sociologically "we and them" neutralizes every bridge of communication while at the same time social stigmatization creates distances".
Mr. Tsioutis: It is a question of understanding the pandemic
"There are several reasons why we are leading to a new outbreak and it is good to understand them, so that we can act in time together and prevent further deterioration," the head of the EES told F, explaining the data in detail.
- Fatigue: It makes sense after 1.5 years and 3 lockdown, to want to end all this and return to our daily lives as we knew it before the pandemic. Unfortunately, however, we have a long way to go and we must (primarily ourselves) experience the individual protection measures we know on a daily basis.
- Complacency: It is in our nature, when we are in a phase of relaxation, to feel that the difficulties are behind us and now everything is going well. Especially when the relaxes have reached the level we are at today, where everyday life gives us the impression that the pandemic is over and we are going through the summer season.
- Relaxations: The greater the number and extent of relaxations, the more likely we are to see transmissions in different places (common sense). But relaxes in activities also bring loosening to the protective behaviour we've learned in recent months.
- Increased contacts / crowded conditions: Relaxes bring contacts, opening spaces brings crowded conditions. These significantly increase the risk of transmission at the same time in many.
- Turning tests on specific population portions: The introduction of SafePass means that a significant portion of the population (vaccinated, people with a recent history of disease) may not be tested. So the majority of the tests are used by the proportion of the population who are active (workers, social workers, students – until recently), but have not "secured" immunity. This means that the daily results of rapid tests come from a certain percentage of our population and may not reflect the image in society (and we do not detect all incidents).
- Stabilization of vaccination rate: In recent weeks there has been a stabilisation in the vaccination rate. By approaching this observation with realism, it is good to leave the discussions on 'herd immunity' and vaccination targets and see how we understand the reasons why our fellow citizens are not vaccinated and to ensure, through proper communication and transparency, that we strengthen our sense of confidence in the authorities and in science.
- Most contagious strain: For a month now we have known that the "Indian" strain (more correctly, "Delta variant") has been circulating in our society. We also know well what it means to circulate and transmit a more contagious strain (see March 2021 experience with the strain "Alpha variant" / "British"). The ECDC yesterday issued a detailed risk assessment for the course of the summer, with the Delta strain being transmitted and the lifting of measures continuing. Among other things, it is stated that measures should be lifted gradually and not abruptly in order to prevent a sharp flare-up.
The point, Mr. Tsioutis said, "is to understand the pandemic. To understand that it hasn't disappeared, that it's here and to make the necessary moves. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen/modify the vaccination plan in order to cover all groups of vulnerable people, while continuing individual protection/distancing measures".
CHRISTOS PETROU: "The data has changed"
"Not all those who are not vaccinated by belief are vaccine deniers," Christos Petrou told "F", explaining that "some people are sceptical and one has to explain to them the documented data", and at the same time, "there is another category of people who are unconvinced and this is scientifically documented". Everyone has their questions and concerns and the answers should be addressed to each individual group with sobriety, without scaring people. The Health Authorities must go themselves and find and listen to the world, especially young people. It takes empathy and everyone to make their own decisions freely.
The campaign that took place in the past few months no longer makes sense, the data has changed. Unfortunately, a phenomenon of polarization is developing within society by separating into vaccinated and unvaccinated or even those who have had the opportunity to receive or prevent a vaccine and others who took another because they did not have time." He added that, "unfortunately in the past few weeks it has been given the impression that everything is going well", but, "the coronavirus pandemic is not over. ECDC has sounded the alarm sirens for the D mutation and recommends careful relaxation. In this context, we must also operate in consultation with the relevant ministries', and he gave as an example the announcement of the opening of flights from Russia, 'at a time when the same country is 'red' from cases and with an extremely low level of vaccination. Unfortunately, some of the objectives lead to an extension of the problem."
