Concerns raised over AstraZeneca vaccine
DOMINION — News that Nova Scotia has paused the AstraZeneca vaccine has created some concern in the community.
“There’s a little concern, there’s no question,” said Cape Breton Regional Municipality District 10 Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger.
On Thursday in a news release, Nova Scotia Health and Wellness said the decision is based on an abundance of caution due to an observed increase in the rare blood clotting condition linked to this vaccine and because the province has enough mRNA vaccine to immunize people ages 40 and older.
Bruckschwaiger, 60, had one shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine on April 24 and his second shot was booked for July 7.
“It’s the uncertainty at this point, including on the second shot,” he said, adding he is hearing some concerns from others in the community as well.
Bruckschwaiger said as soon as his age group came up where he could get any vaccine, he signed up. Having underlying health conditions and being a councillor who moves around a bit he was worried, wanting to protect himself but also the community.
Although he knew there had been some issues with the vaccine — such as blood clotting — he was comfortable at the time knowing it was approved by Health Canada and he even got advice from his doctor.
“I really listened to the professionals, I watched every report, I keep up on it,” he said. “I kept hearing whatever you can get in your arm, do it.”
Now Bruckschwaiger said his main concern at this point is the future of the second shot but through the COVID19 briefing Wednesday, knows they are waiting for the results of studies on mixing vaccines out of Europe.
“(Chief medical officer of health) Dr. (Robert) Strang has been remarkable, the government has been remarkable,” he said. “I really think it’s in good hands and the best decisions will be made.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday he got his third rapid COVID-19 test and is hoping others are doing the same and following restrictions.
“Just a little more pain by us all and we might be able to salvage some of our summer.”
DR. ROBERT STRANG
During Wednesday’s COVID19 briefing, Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin and Strang announced the province will be pausing the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“With a global and national concern around the serious side effect of it, it is the best solution to move people who were to get AstraZeneca to receive mRNA vaccine instead because the age availability now completely overlaps,” said Strang.
The province says anyone who is scheduled to receive their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine will receive an email cancelling that appointment and asking them to book a new appointment for either a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
A decision on second doses will be made once more information is received from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
The AstraZeneca vaccine has been linked to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT, in other provinces.
CANCELLED APPOINTMENTS
Meanwhile, Ruth Dupe, 64, of New Waterford had booked the AstraZeneca vaccine on three different occasions. However, she then cancelled the appointments three times.
“Every time I booked it I would just be physically sick, I wouldn’t be able to sleep the night before,” she said.
Dupe said she is diabetic, has a pacemaker and other health issues said she didn’t want to end up on a ventilator in the hospital and felt she needed protection as soon as possible.
“No one wants to look at that as part of their future, so I just decided as soon as I could get a vaccine I was going to get it.”
So Dupe said she’d book an AstraZeneca appointment but then when the issue of blood clotting started to crop up, she just had a terrible feeling and couldn’t make herself go to get it. She knows the issues at first were with young women and there was a possible connection to birth control but then learned of a 56-year-old woman who had blood clots.
The third time she had it booked for 3:45 p.m. the day in question and was hoping she could convince herself to go. At about 10 a.m. that morning a friend called to inform her their age group of 60 to 65 was now allowing for booking of appointments for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
“As soon as I heard that I cancelled my appointment for the AstraZeneca and went right online and booked for Pfizer.”
Dupe received her first vaccine on April 29.
“It was a huge relief getting it,” she said, adding even more so now with the recent news.