Poll reveals ignorance about vaccines

Only six out in 10 Greeks believe in the effectiveness of vaccinations in combating the spread of infectious diseases, while three in 10 suspect that the risks of side effects are equal to or greater than the benefits, researchers have found.

According to a nationwide survey titled Hellas Health VII, conducted earlier this year by researchers at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine on a sample of 1,000 people, two out of 10 Greeks do not know that adults need to be vaccinated against some illnesses. Meanwhile, over 40 percent of parents who have their children vaccinated admit they are "fairly" or "not at all" informed about the need for immunization.

Yiannis Toundas, a social and preventive medicine professor at the University of Athens who took part in the survey, told Kathimerini that one of the main findings of the study was the low vaccination...