Second dose concerns rise as provincial AstraZeneca vaccine supply gets low
Posted May 11, 2021 8:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EDMONTON (CityNews) – With only 8,400 doses left of the AstraZeneca vaccine in supply in Alberta, some are wondering if those that got their first dose with it will be able to get their second.
Paula Kirman initially felt Gen-X, part of the age group that took the AstraZeneca vaccine, would be forgotten again.
“My initial thought was panic, because I thought, wait a minute, that’s not enough to give a second shot to everyone who got AstraZeneca,” she explained.
The shock and uncertainty of being able to get a second dose of AstraZeneca is made worse with some health experts recommending taking an mRNA vaccine like Pfizer or Moderna as they become more readily available.
READ MORE: Alberta to stop giving first doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot
Ontario announcing Tuesday afternoon, on top of supply issues, say they are being ‘over cautious’ by halting AstraZeneca over concern for severe reactions like blood clots and having seen a minor increase in severe reactions, stressing these are still rare and data shows they are unlikely to happen with a second dose.
Ontario’s Health Minister, Christine Elliott, reiterated the province’s decision Tuesday evening in a tweet, before adding that everyone who did receive the first AstraZeneca, “did the right thing to protect yourselves, your loved ones and communities, and I continue to encourage everyone to sign up for a vaccine as soon as it’s your turn.”
Alberta’s top doctor, who herself got the AstraZeneca vaccine along with many politicians, offering calm to Albertans in the 40-59 year old age group who are scheduled to start getting their 16 week booster mid-June.
Hinshaw stated that while the province doesn’t know when more doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive, the province will save existing does for the Albertans that got those first doses.
“Effective today [May 11], we are holding our remaining AstraZeneca supply for either those who have a contraindication to an mRNA vaccine or for second doses,” explained Hinshaw.
Canada’s top doctors also expressed they are watching a study on mix and matching vaccines out of the United Kingdom.
Dr. Tam is confident, while we don’t have dates, shipments of AstraZeneca will come in time for second doses.
However, Canadians who got their first dose from AstraZeneca will be watching the situation in India, where most of Canada’s doses have come from, to see if they begin exporting again.
