Covid 19 Vaccine

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Waterfall said:
From what I understand, Trudeau put most of his eggs in the European market to purchase vaccines, ignoring the US market because he was afraid that Trump would put a ban on letting the vaccines cross the border. Which I would say, is reasonable thinking while Trump was in power,
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And I suspect this is a big part of the problem. In spring-summer-fall, it was not at all clear which way the U.S. would fall. If Trump had won, and the EU gone a little less xenophobic, the wisdom of several positions might have looked quite different.
 
Who does Trudeau appoint, in cabinet, to do procurements of vaccines? I agree Canada is lagging. I doubt it’s all Trudeau’s fault individually, but he is the figurehead who needs to take responsibility for their screw-ups.
 
I sent in a comment through a comment box to the Provincial Health Authority here. I asked if 20-49 year olds are the biggest spreaders - and that includes a huge portion of working aged public - why are the vaccines not being prioritized at both ends? Concentrating on the spreaders, and those of the age group most likely to die. Working inwards from both ends instead of from the oldest down. I said it didn’t make sense that the biggest spreaders are among the last scheduled for vaccination.

I got what I am pretty sure is a form letter response, with a few little personal touches edited in, that pointed me to links I’ve already read. At least somebody responded.
 
At least Canada has got some vaccines - in Oz so far we don't have a single vaccine to date. (Even the Kiwis will get theirs before us!).

We can make the Astra vaccine here - after we get the first batch from the UK. Because of this most Aussies will get the Astra version. My problem with that is there are real concerns about its efficacy with the new more contagious strains of the virus.
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PilgrimsProgress said:
At least Canada has got some vaccines - in Oz so far we don't have a single vaccine to date. (Even the Kiwis will get theirs before us!).

We can make the Astra vaccine here - after we get the first batch from the UK. Because of this most Aussies will get the Astra version. My problem with that is there are real concerns about its efficacy with the new more contagious strains of the virus.
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It's also a live vaccine, which typically means there are many who should not get it. I'm not sure with the viral vectors for COVID vaccines though, I haven't seen much information yet. I think they may be a little more open compared to say, FluMist something as common as asthma prevent people from receiving it.

The 2 are a bit different - attenuated viruses - weakening the virus that is being vaccinated against.
The COVID ones are viral vectors - it's not actually a coronavirus that is being used, it's a totally different virus and is genetically engineered to carry some of the the same genetic material as the coronavirus.
 
Northwind said:
I can't get a live vaccine. Do you know if Canada will be getting any live vaccines?
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Likely multiple just depends on what Health Canada approves, the AstraZeneca will probably be the first, it's close to finishing the process. If your oncologist didn't specifically say anything about the COVID live ones though, double check if the chance to get it is likely to come up before the mRNA. Like I said, it's different than the attenuated live vaccines. Adenoviruses are actually used for cancer therapies.
 
Oh and Johnson and Johnson is live too. With various things being looked into easiest way to keep up to date is as they get approved just type in the vaccine & Canada product monograph. I imagine Australia would have something similar - it's the same thing that comes with boxed meds here - both OTC and prescription (and the pharmacy has it for the pills they count out too, they just don't typically give the extra papers out unless asked).
 
Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker - Need an account, but it is free. More US based, but it does help see where things are for the vaccines. It gives a quick look at the type - mRNA, inactivated, the viral vector, protein (would have no genetic material), etc.

Researchers are currently testing 69 vaccines in clinical trials on humans, and 20 have reached the final stages of testing. At least 89 preclinical vaccines are under active investigation in animals.
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ChemGal said:
If your oncologist didn't specifically say anything about the COVID live ones though, double check if the chance to get it is likely to come up before the mRNA.
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One thing she specifically said was they are treating this similar to the flu vaccine. That means no live vaccine. I presume that is because I and people like me are susceptible to actually getting sick if it's live vaccine.
 
Northwind said:
One thing she specifically said was they are treating this similar to the flu vaccine. That means no live vaccine. I presume that is because I and people like me are susceptible to actually getting sick if it's live vaccine.
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The flu vaccine is a very different class though. If you look at the NYT link I shared, they aren't even including the vector vaccines in with the attenuated ones. The have attenuated/killed in one group, vectors in another.
Not sure what the entire conversation you had with her was. It may also make sense to wait until you're close - more information keeps coming out.

The Canadian Liver Foundation had a FB live event this week on the vaccines. They had mentioned a concern with adenovirus vaccine is uncertainty with how many one can get - as while the goal is to become immune to the protein that will come from the genetic material within, it's also possible to develop antibodies to the vector. This means the future vaccinations may not work well with similar vectors as the body may inactive them before the genetic material gets expressed. My speculation here - may also be a reason to avoid for some, as if adenovector therapy is likely to be used, the vaccination may hinder than from being effective.
 
Sorry, I'm trying to see if the AstraZeneca vaccine is inactivated on top of being a vector - that is the case for some of those, not all. I did forget that aspect.

ETA - AstraZeneca is indeed a live vaccine.
 
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ChemGal said:
Not sure what the entire conversation you had with her was. It may also make sense to wait until you're close - more information keeps coming out.
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She was only comparing the covid vaccine to the flu vaccine in very general terms and wasn't actually saying the two were the same. She said that to say the agency is taking a similar approach to the covid vaccine as they do for the flu vaccine. There's a certain amount of caution. At the same time, there's the recognition that there's likely more risk from the illness than the vaccine. Of course we're learning more as time goes on. That's good.
 
Northwind said:
She was only comparing the covid vaccine to the flu vaccine in very general terms and wasn't actually saying the two were the same. She said that to say the agency is taking a similar approach to the covid vaccine as they do for the flu vaccine. There's a certain amount of caution. At the same time, there's the recognition that there's likely more risk from the illness than the vaccine. Of course we're learning more as time goes on. That's good.
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May be good to watch what's going on in the UK specifically with the AstraZeneca one - and which populations they do and do not use it on. The reason why the flu live vaccine is so different - is it's still an influenza virus. The live virus being used for AstraZeneca is one that isn't really thought to make people sick in general.
 
I know the docs at BCCA are watching this and learning as new information comes out. If the AstraZ vaccine comes out and is the one I'm offered I'll ask about it. I don't want to take unnecessary risks.
 
Given that AstroZeneca seems to be less effective against the variants than Moderna and Pfizer, I am not sure I want it for that reason. The variants are becoming pretty common in Ontario. Apparently, it'll keep you alive and out of ICU, but you can still get sick.
 
In Oz, we've been told we don't get to choose which vaccine we get. The Pfizer doses are limited - so will be given to those connected with quarantine first.

(Nearly all our covid cases are now via quarantine - locally acquired cases are almost non-existent.)

This could change with time.
 
PilgrimsProgress said:
In Oz, we've been told we don't get to choose which vaccine we get. The Pfizer doses are limited - so will be given to those connected with quarantine first.

(Nearly all our covid cases are now via quarantine - locally acquired cases are almost non-existent.)

This could change with time.
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No choice so far here either. I would hope if some are safer for some populations than others though the safer available option is used.
 
I will be getting my second Pfizer one on Wednesday. After the first one, my arm was sore for 24 hrs but that was it. Others had more severe side effects, feeling sore all over and tired. Most of my colleagues getting theirs Tuesday, I get mine Wednesday, one other one Thursday. So if we really feel bad, at least there will always be one person to work ( that timing was not planned). Heard of some nurses having chills and some having fever. Will go to bed with tylenol at the bedside. But I am glad I am getting it.
My friend who has an auto immun disease and gets IV s every 14 days, says”24 hours? I feel like that for four days after my treatment.” Its all relative.
 
My niece, who is a dental hygenist, received her 2nd dose in Minnesota. She was feeling pretty crappy after her 2nd dose. I understand that it is to be expected. A reasonable price to pay for getting people covered.

Watched on the news that all of Nunavut was offered vaccines and are in the process. Why? No ICU there. Makes sense. Thankful for them to be prioritized over us in S. ontario.
 
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