46% in Italy fear vaccine side effects

(ANSA) - Brussels, April 26 - Almost half of the Italian population, 46%, think vaccines can often produce serious side-effects, according to a new Eurobarometer report released on Friday. This compared to 42% who said this assertion was false, while 12% said they did not know.
    The proportion of Italians who fear vaccine side effects is actually lower than the EU average of 48%, with 16 countries over the 50% mark.
    The report said 32% of people in Italy think vaccines overload and weaken the immune system, while 34% think vaccines can cause the disease against which they protect.