By Riham Alkousaa

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Benedikt, a forty-year-old teacher living in Kaiserslautern in south Germany, has long resisted getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Uneasy at the new mRNA technology that is used in the two most widely administered shots, he felt.

Richter explained that Richter’s brother-in-law suffered from heart muscle inflammation and was hospitalized one day after her second shot. Richter also said Richter did not believe the vaccine had been linked to Richter’s sister. These conditions are rare, but mostly minor side effects that regulators have recognized.

However, the European Union approved in December the use Novavax He became intrigued by vaccine Nuxavoxid (NASDAQ:), which uses a well-established, protein-based technology.

Father of two stated, “I did my research. I feel a bit better about it.”

Reuters has found data that suggests the 2-dose vaccine, which is recommended for everyone over 18 in Germany as a basic vaccination, may be gaining more support.

Some federal states offer Novavax shot waiting lists. For example, in Rhineland-Palatinate (where Richter is), more than 14.300 people have registered their names. A Berlin private vaccination center told Reuters that they have around 3,000 registered.

The number of people who have signed up is staggering. “We are overwhelmed by the number of people who have signed up,” Daniel Termann (a Berlin doctor at Historic Factory’s vaccination center) said.

Novavax’s recombinant-protein technology has been around since the mid-1980s. This is a well-known tool for fighting hepatitis B and other diseases such as meningitis and the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer.

Researchers at the University of Erfurt found that while unvaccinated Germans have more faith in traditional vaccines and mRNA vaccines in recent surveys, overall trust was low. (Graphic: GRAPHIC-Vaccine confidence, https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/byprjxdrope/chart.png)

The survey revealed that almost two-thirds of those unvaccinated opposed vaccination. This suggests that only a very small percentage would consider getting the Novavax shot.

Lars Korn (study co-author) said that he was not sure it would be a gamechanger.

Many are at risk. Germany is at 74.4%, which is lower than other western European countries.

If Nuxavoxid was able to make a difference, it could lead to an end of the restrictions that hinder the recovery and growth of Europe’s most important economy.

JAB FOR FREEDOM

Problem number two would then be how to make sure supply.

According to a spokesperson for Germany’s health ministry, Germany could receive as many as 34 million Nuvaxovid doses per year in 2022. In the first quarter of the following year, around 4,000,000 doses will be available.

There are 20 million Germans who have not been vaccinated. A Reuters report on Tuesday showed that Novavax has only delivered a fraction of its 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines it intends to distribute around the globe in 2022. It also delayed the first quarter shipments to Europe and countries with lower incomes such as the Philippines.

According to the federal ministry of health, priority will be given to workers in the healthcare sector to get the vaccine during the first quarter. The mandate will take effect mid-March and will apply to all employees.

This can be frustrating to those who fear mRNA vaccines and are tired of public restrictions.

Many German states ban the sale of non-essential services and shops in many areas, such as restaurants or barbershops.

Many of the 1,500+ Telegram Messenger users discussed Novavax and hoped to get the shot as a result of pandemic curbs.

Richter said that he was motivated by freedom and had to pass a COVID test every day to learn how to do his own hair cuts.

He missed sauna visits that helped him get through the winter in Germany. His two kids would be thrilled to go swimming with him again.

He said, “I have 2 children. They are restricted due to me.” He said, “I don’t do it because I am convicted. It is more out of pressure from outside.”