Majority believes AstraZeneca vaccine production should be halted, according to a recent poll.
In a recent poll conducted by Forsa and commissioned by RTL and n-tv, it has been revealed that public opinion in Germany regarding the resumption of AstraZeneca vaccinations remains largely negative.
The survey, which was carried out on March 16, found that 71% of citizens would accept the offer to get vaccinated with AstraZeneca if vaccinations were to resume after a renewed review. However, 32% of Germans would prefer not to get vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine if it resumes, indicating a significant level of vaccine hesitancy.
This distrust stems from earlier communication failures during the vaccine rollout, where mixed messages about rare blood clot risks led to pauses and age restrictions being imposed inconsistently across Europe, including Germany. These mixed signals have damaged the credibility of AstraZeneca and public health authorities, especially among younger demographics, resulting in low uptake and millions of unused doses.
Recent data reflect that despite renewed reviews and possible resumption, public skepticism persists, and the preference appears stronger towards mRNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty. AstraZeneca still faces a perception challenge tied to safety concerns reinforced in past years.
YouGov data from July 2025 show AstraZeneca’s popularity in broader public opinion is relatively low, with 32% of people having a positive view of the brand, 17% actively disliking it, and 29% neutral—indicating a lukewarm to negative reputation that likely reflects ongoing hesitancy about its vaccine.
Interestingly, the overall vaccination willingness of citizens has only slightly changed compared to the survey at the beginning of March. On March 16, the percentage of citizens who said "yes, I will get vaccinated as soon as I have the opportunity" was 71%. However, the approval for a future vaccination with AstraZeneca among those who want to wait and see is significantly lower at 24%.
It is worth noting that 8% of respondents have already been vaccinated against Corona, and 71% of those who have been vaccinated or want to be vaccinated want to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity. For this survey, 1,001 people were interviewed on March 16.
In conclusion, while there may be regulatory and expert support for resuming AstraZeneca vaccinations, public opinion in Germany remains cautious and generally unfavorable. This has maintained lower acceptance compared to mRNA vaccines, complicating efforts to promote AstraZeneca vaccination broadly in Germany.
Other medical-conditions might be a concern for some who are hesitant about getting vaccinated with AstraZeneca, given the health-and-wellness implications of vaccine side effects and the potential for interference with existing treatment.
Moreover, science suggests that the public's preference for mRNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty over AstraZeneca could persist as a result of the ongoing negative perceptions about the safety and efficacy of the latter, as evidenced by the YouGov data reflecting a lukewarm to negative reputation of AstraZeneca in the broader public opinion.
