Even here in Europe where there are genuine left wing parties, where there’s proportional representation, where we have mistly functional education, labour class people are voting for folks who blame poor people and immigrants for everything that goes wrong. I think part of the blame is with tabloid style media and social media magnifying formerly fringe opinion. Just saying that having a real alternative for the populist right, might not be enough.

Depends on the molecule. The ones used in vaccines are nit dangerous. See for example https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100244467/

And we are still increasing the rate at which we are making it worse…

Ironically, De Croo was also criticised here in Belgium for that speech being way too soft.