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NACI Offers New Advice For 2nd AstraZeneca Shots

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A key federal advisory committee is no longer recommending that Canadians receive a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) previously said that people who received a first dose of AstraZeneca could get it as their second or could choose an mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna.

But new guidance released Thursday said the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is “now preferred” for the second dose.

“This change is based on emerging evidence indicating a potentially better immune response from this mixed vaccine schedule and to mitigate the potential risk of VITT associated with viral vector vaccines,” Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said in a news conference.

VITT is a rare blood clot that has occurred in some people who received the AstraZeneca shot.

NACI also recommended that an mRNA vaccine is preferred as a first dose unless one is inaccessible or there is a contraindication, for example, an allergy to an mRNA vaccine or its components.

“I wish to emphasize that people who received two doses of the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine can rest assured that the vaccine they received provides good protection against infection and very good protection against severe disease and hospitalization,” said Tam.

NACI is now also recommending that people who received Pfizer or Moderna as their first dose should be offered the same vaccine for their second.

Tam said if the same vaccine is not readily available, the mRNA vaccines are considered “interchangeable,” meaning a person can be offered another mRNA vaccine instead.

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Ontario Shortens AstraZeneca Second Dose Interval

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The province moves to shorten the interval between the second dose for those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

You now have the option to choose AstraZeneca again or take the Pfizer of Moderna vaccine in as little as eight weeks.

Health officials, in a statement Saturday, indicated that while waiting 12 weeks will help to provide more protection, some may choose to receive their second dose sooner to have the increased protection provided by a second dose earlier.

Starting Monday, June 14, at 8:00 a.m. you can book your second dose through the provincial booking system, or through the Thunder Bay District Health Unit or Northwestern Health Unit.

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U-S Vaccine Shipment Coming To Canada

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The COVID-19 vaccine shipments are ramping up to Canada.

Brigadier General Krista Brodie, in Friday’s update, indicating that seven million doses of the Moderna vaccine will arrive from the United States by the end of June.

Canada also received 2.4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine as well as regular deliveries of 100,000 Moderna doses.

Brodie reported close to 32 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to the country.

When it comes to the U-S Moderna shipments, federal officials are anticipating 2.9 million doses on June 16 and 4.2 million doses by June 18.

Further with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Canada could get a shipment of 300,000 vaccines by the end of June.

The country has held back another batch of 310,000 Johnson & Johnson shots because of quality control issues.

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NWHU Responds To Vaccine Announcement

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Being able to mix COVID-19 vaccines gives the Northwestern Health Unit more flexibility.

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Kit Young Hoon says that’s especially good for those who had AstraZeneca for their first dose.

“Because of the concerns related to the vaccine-induced blood clots,” says Doctor Young Hoon, “clients are given the option of considering a different vaccine for their second dose.”

She explains that just because they can doesn’t mean that they will.

“We would be aiming to provide the same vaccine (they got for their first dose) if it is available (and) at this time, both Pfizer and Moderna are available in the region.”

Doctor Young Hoon adds that should supply issues arise it’s nice to know they have the option to mix vaccines.

“We now know that the option is there. Because both (Pfizer and Moderna) are mRNA vaccines, it makes them interchangeable if we need to use the other one.”

To date, the Northwestern Health Unit has administered 55,564 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

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Canadians Can Safely Mix COVID-19 Vaccines: NACI

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Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunizations says it’s safe for Canadians to mix COVID-19 vaccine types.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, announced Tuesday anyone with their first dose of AstraZeneca can receive an mRNA vaccine like Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, for their second dose.

Those who received a first dose of a mRNA vaccine are advised to get a second dose of the same type, but if they are unavailable when it comes time for the second shot Tam said Pfizer and Moderna can be ‘considered interchangeable.’

“The interchangeability of vaccines means you can receive one vaccine product for your first dose, and safely receive a different vaccine for your second dose to complete your two-dose vaccine series for optimal protection from COVID-19,” Tam said.

As provinces reach the threshold of offering first doses to all Canadians aged 12 and older, Tam says it’s now important to turn our attention toward getting second doses into the arms of the most vulnerable residents.

“The committee recommended last week that second doses be offered as soon as possible. NACI recommends that priority for second doses should be given to those at highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 disease after or at the same time as first doses are offered to all remaining eligible populations,” Tam said in a press briefing.

The announcement follows studies and clinical trials into vaccine interchangeability in Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Updated guidance from NACI says those studies show following a dose of AstraZeneca with a mRNA vaccine provides an immune response boost, though there is a possibility of increased short-term side effects, including headache, fatigue and general illness.

Studies have also shown that while the risk of VITT or blood clots caused by vaccines appears to be lower from a second dose, the rate has increased over time. NACI says the second dose of AstraZeneca appears to trigger VITT in 1 out of every 600,000 people who received the shot.

NACI also says so long as Canadians receive two doses of any of the three currently-approved COVID-19 vaccines that individual should be considered to be fully vaccinated from COVID-19.

Individual provincial governments will now have to consider NACI’s guidance and determine whether they will offer residents the opportunity to mix vaccine types for their second doses.

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Feds Extend AstraZeneca Expiry Dates

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Health Canada is encouraging the provinces and territories to use up some AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses.

It approved the extension of the expiration date for two lots of the vaccine, which would originally have been thrown out May 31st.

Health officials now have until July 1st to use those doses, after AstraZeneca submitted information showing it’s safe to use those shots for up to one month past their original expiry date.

Ontario officials recently approved the use of AstraZeneca shots for second doses.

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Province Halts AstraZeneca Shots

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No more Ontarians will get the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first COVID-19 shot while the province makes sure it’s safe.

The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said Tuesday they are erring on the side of caution after reports of serious blood clots caused by the shot.

However, Williams noted people who got the AstraZeneca shot already made the right decision, because any vaccine is better than going without.

The officer added the province is working with its federal partners to decide what that group will receive for their second shot.

Williams pointed out that if you didn’t have a serious reaction to the first shot, you likely would be fine to get your second dose, but they need to confirm that for sure.

The AstraZeneca vaccine isn’t offered by the Northwestern Health Unit but it has been used by local pharmacies including Shoppers Drug Mart in Dryden.

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Age Threshold For AstraZeneca Vaccine Lowered

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As conditions in Canada worsen during the third wave, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends the AstraZeneca vaccine for those who are 30-years-of-age and older.

After looking over the most recent international data, Health Canada says the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the potential risks.

NACI suggested provinces and territories adjust the age threshold for using the AstraZeneca vaccine based on their local epidemiology.

Canada’s chief medical health officers said Friday they support the move adding with earlier access to vaccination, they may be able to vaccinate people faster, protect the health care system, reduce severe illness and save lives.

The following is an excerpt from the Statement from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health issued on Friday:

“On April 12th, following a safety review, Health Canada concluded that there is a possible link between very rare blood clotting events accompanied by low platelets and the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, having assessed the latest available international data. As a result, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine product monograph has been updated accordingly by Health Canada. Overall, Health Canada concluded that the benefits of this vaccine continue to outweigh the potential risks. This adverse event is being referred to as Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT) and is estimated to occur in one in every 100,000 to one in every 250,000 people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Based on international evidence on VITT, as well the risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19 in Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has updated its recommendations on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The recommendations have been updated based on an assessment of the risk of VITT, COVID-19 exposure risk and the benefits of the vaccine in preventing serious COVID-19 disease for various age groups. NACI has lowered the age threshold for the AstraZeneca vaccine and has provided jurisdictions with considerations that will help us determine how to achieve the greatest benefits from the use of this vaccine. There are no clear risk factors for VITT; it occurs across a range of ages. However, age is a key factor in the risk of serious complications of COVID-19.”

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Canada Reports First Blood Clot After AstraZeneca Vaccine

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Canada has reported its first case of someone experiencing a blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced the reported case on Tuesday.

Several media outlets report that the case involves a woman in Quebec, though her age was not released.

Last month, Canada’s vaccine advisory committee recommended pausing AstraZeneza vaccines to people under 55 after reports of similar clots in Europe.

Health Canada says the side effect is “very rare” and the benefits of the vaccine to protect against COVID-19 outweigh the potential risks.

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Ford Frustrated With AstraZeneca Changes

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Premier Doug Ford is expressing some irritation with the AstraZeneca vaccine guidelines.

After reports that the National Advisory Committee on Immunization plans to approve the vaccine for those aged 65 and up, Ford says that development throws a wrench in the province’s vaccine rollout.

“It’s good news that they can go older than 60, 65, but man, we have everything set up, we’ve got everyone lined up, and all of a sudden, without notice, today now we can move the goalpost again,” he says.

Ford says this means the province has to adjust very quickly.

“We’re going to fulfill the commitment with people that have already registered, but when we get a change of direction from the feds–which is NACI–and they’re changing and moving the goalposts, I can’t begin to tell you the logistics behind it,” Ford says. “It messes everything up, to be very frank with you.”

Ford also claims he doesn’t know when the next shipments of AstraZeneca doses will arrive, but says the province will handle the situation. He says the only thing he needs is more vaccine supply from the federal government.

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