Greeks are hesitant to get vaccinated after the pandemic

Greeks are avoiding vaccination after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the resurgence of diseases such as measles and whooping cough, which have caused fatalities, according to data from the Hellenic Society of Infectious Diseases (HSID).

In 2024, 438 cases of whooping cough were recorded, compared to 9 in 2023, with 15% of those cases being infants, two of whom died. Additionally, three infants required hospitalization in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Meanwhile, only 38% of pregnant women were vaccinated against whooping cough.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) states that 2,500-3,000 people die annually from antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Greek hospitals.

Healthcare workers were vaccinated against the flu at a rate of 30%, compared to 60% during the pandemic. Elderly people also opted for the regular flu vaccine available at pharmacies, rather than the enhanced version that requires a doctor’s prescription, resulting in 50 deaths. Meanwhile, only 1.2% of Greeks received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, while 83% of the elderly population in Sweden was vaccinated.

Regarding data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals, Nikos Sypsas, president of the Hellenic Society of Infectious Diseases, commented: “When hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, it is very difficult to combat resistance because antibiotics are given to treat whatever infections are present until test results are available.”