both types of vaccine are safe and offer protection against infection and serious illness from the novel coronavirus, said dr. jia hu, a physician with the 19 to zero immunization campaign.
“but, i realize that some people do not want the mrna vaccines, and at this point, i frankly would rather people just get something,” said hu, who is also a former medical officer of health with alberta health services.
“if that’s what albertans who won’t take other vaccines are going to take, then go for it.”
in announcing alberta was looking to procure the janssen vaccine at the start of october, kenney said he’s consistently but “anecdotally” heard requests from people living in rural alberta who would be willing to take that shot, but not one of the others which remain available.
hu said the one-dose nature of the vaccine might be slightly more accessible for some, but said he thinks the strategy is in use to cater to those who may inaccurately believe the mrna vaccines are unsafe.
“which again, doesn’t really make scientific sense, but at this point, if someone is willing to take something, let’s get them whatever they’re willing to get,” he said.
“now, we have almost a year of data on how safe and effective these vaccines are. we have just gone through one of the worst fourth waves in the world, where we were one of the only jurisdictions in the world where icus were properly challenged. we’ve seen so many people, not just in calgary and edmonton but from the rural areas getting covid, getting hospitalized from covid and dying from covid.