Canadian provinces begin to mix two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, OTTAWA – Health Canada’s weekly report showed that at least 1.3 million Canadians received a different type of vaccine for the Covid-19 vaccine in June. The report analyzed that about a fifth of the 6.5 million people who received the second vaccine between May 31 and June 26 received a different vaccine from the first.
Some provinces started mixing two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna in early April depending on availability. This practice became more common during the third week of June, when shipments from Pfizer were delayed. These conditions prompted many provinces to move to Moderna for just a few days.
The mixing of two types of vaccines, namely the Oxford-AstraZeneca mRNA and viral vector vaccines, did not begin until the beginning of June. The confusion comes after the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NACI) said people who received AstraZeneca for the first dose can safely get the mRNA vaccine for the second dose.
NACI went further on June 17, when it said getting an mRNA vaccine after AstraZeneca was the preferred option. The committee said mixing the types of vaccines resulted in a stronger immune response.
Infectious disease doctor at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton, Zain Chagla, said many people appeared to be receiving the proposed vaccine. “I think people are following the evidence, they are following the advice from NACI, and that’s great. It means there are more people who are fully vaccinated out there,” Chagla said.
As of June 26, only 189,907 people enrolled were fully vaccinated with two doses of AstraZeneca. Data may be incomplete because the Quebec region does not provide Health Canada with a first and second dose breakdown and only reports data on people who received at least one dose.
Montreal Children’s Hospital pediatric infectious disease physician Christos Karatzios said it was clear the Covid-19 vaccine was working. It refers to people who remain susceptible until they receive two injections of two vaccines.
“Mix and match (vaccine), who cares. Just give humans two vaccines, ”Karatzios said.
In contrast, 83.2% of Covid-19 cases have occurred in people who have not taken a single dose. Then, 15.6% occurred in people who received only one dose.
Nationally, Canada has immunized at least 78 percent of people over 12 years of age and fully immunized over 42 percent of that number. Children under 12 are not eligible for the vaccine.
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