the latest such stumble comes from naci (the national advisory committee on immunization ), who stated that the mrna vaccines (pfizer and moderna) are “preferred” but that those who “do not wish to wait” for an mrna could accept one of the viral vector vaccines — astrazeneca or johnson & johnson — if “the benefits outweigh the risk for the individual.”
naci’s role is to quantify risk and reward with respect to vaccination, and to advise decision-makers via the canadian immunization guide , which is a guidance document meant for use by health-care professionals and vaccine program managers. in times of pandemic, however, naci’s words are being parsed and interpreted in real time by an audience with whom the committee had never before had to deal directly: the general public.
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first , it’s important to take a moment to appreciate what an astonishing thing it is to have a choice of which life-saving vaccine to accept in the middle of a deadly pandemic. most parts of the world don’t have that luxury. so while the government messaging is often confusing, let’s be thankful for the luxury of that confusion.
second , “preference” isn’t simply a matter of choice. it’s also a matter of circumstance. the astrazeneca jab is in many ways the vaccine of the world. it is inexpensive, easily made (compared to the mrna doses), and can be transported and stored with less consternation. for many parts of the globe, it is the preferred vaccine as it will drag large populations out of this crisis.
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third , preference and choice are luxuries not only for those with access to multiple formulations, but also to those who can afford to wait for their favoured brand. many communities in canada cannot wait. hot-zone neighbourhoods, essential workers, and poor and racialized people who are at great risk of covid infection cannot afford to wait.
fourth , those canadians who received the astrazeneca vaccine should not feel cheated or coerced. every day spent unvaccinated is a day in which they could have contracted covid and possibly be fighting for their lives in an icu ward. this is especially true if they live in a hot zone or are essential workers.
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