Coronavirus: Refusing the vaccine

Available for over a year

Official figures suggest the global death toll from Covid-19 now exceeds four million with the virus proliferating in Asia, Africa and South America, where fewer people have been vaccinated. Host James Reynolds brings three doctors together from Namibia, Bangladesh and Russia, which are among the countries struggling to deal with second and third waves of infections. They describe the constant challenge on the hospital wards and highlight the impact of vaccine hesitancy among patients. Indonesia is seeing record numbers of infections due to the highly contagious Delta variant. Hospitals are under increasing pressure. Some are running out of vital supplies. Consequently, some Indonesians are having to personally source oxygen, hospital beds and treatment for loved ones who are ill with Covid-19. Two Indonesians tell us about the searches for these supplies for their sick relatives - with different outcomes. Experts say vaccines offer a path out of this pandemic - yet suspicion, hesitancy and refusal remains. The UK is among the global leaders for vaccination rates and one British man tell us why he refused to take a vaccine and almost died from Covid. We reunite him with the doctor who saved his life. (Photo: Abderrahmane Fadi, who was hospitalised with Covid-19 after refusing the vaccine. Credit: Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)