CANADIANS WHO GOT ASTRAZENECA VACCINE FIRST WILL BE ABLE TO GET SECOND AZ SHOT: DR. TAM

May 19, 2021

By Jane Brown

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Canada’s chief public health officer is offering some information on second doses of COVID-19 vaccine for people who received AstraZeneca as their first shot.

Dr. Theresa Tam says these individuals will be able to choose AstraZeneca for their second shot with informed consent.

Tam also says the National Advisory Committee on Immunization is still awaiting further data from a U.K. study on mixing and matching different COVID vaccines for first and second doses.

A small Spanish study released Tuesday suggests giving a Pfizer shot for a second dose after AstraZeneca is not only safe, but produced a stronger immune response than a second dose of AstraZeneca.

Infectious diseases expert Doctor Gerald Evans told Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with Libby Znaimer that some of the symptoms associated with any of the vaccines (sore arm, fatigue, fever, muscle pain) are a bit more profound in those who did get a different vaccine for their second shot.

“But none of it suggests there’s an increased safety signal problem, and second doses of AstraZeneca have not been associated with as high a risk for the development of that for that vaccine induced blood clot problem, so other than making sure that interval is right, about three months (betweeen doses), probably pushing them forward (is a good idea).”

Dr. Evans adds if Canada’s not going to administer the hundreds of thousands of AZ doses sitting unused in the country, then they should go to countries where they can be used, like India.

Listen for Dr. Evans’ full conversation with Libby Znaimer by clicking here.

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