Canadas Vaccine Strategy Leaves Country Vulnerable To Delta Variant

[Economy 52,844]

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6053976

 

Canada is the Country in the world with the largest 1st dose and 2nd dose gap. Over 70% of adults have received at least 1 shot, one of the very highest rates in the world but a mere 7% got both shots one of the lowest rates in developed world

 

The reasoning was that the 1st shot provided the majority of protection anyway and research showed extending gap did not stop 2nd shots from working as a booster and increased spacing may actually even increase effectiveness so it was decided it would benefit the system as a whole more to have more people receive just 1 shot first than to have fewer people with 2 shots

 

However that decision was made with data based on original Covid19 and the first variants... That decision did not factor in the Indian Delta variant that is making its way to become the dominant strain

 

According to research so far 1 shot is only 30% effective at preventing symptomatic illness from the Delta variant also meaning it will likely easily still spread also. However theres no available data was shown on how many of the 70% symptomatic cases turn out to be severe

 

The Delta variant is making 2nd shots even more critical than before and everyone is encouraged to not skip on it as its effectiveness against some rising variants is somewhat compromised and maximal protection becomes critical

[Economy 52,844]

Me checking online to find out the second im eligeable for 2nd shot

 

[godnhat 4,233]

In my opinion, one dose to all is better than two doses to some

[Economy 52,844]

3 minutes ago, godnhat said:

In my opinion, one dose to all is better than two doses to some

Agreed...

 

Although this strategy may not work very well against spread from Delta variant, if it offers just enough protection for you to not die or end up in ICU i think more ppl getting 1 is worth it.

 

Plus in the long run the increased efficacy from delayed 2nd shot may actually prove very valuable against more stubborn variants like this one even if in the short term it temporarily leaves a bigger window of spread vulnerability

[godnhat 4,233]

8 minutes ago, Economy said:

Agreed...

 

Although this strategy may not work very well against spread from Delta variant, if it offers just enough protection for you to not die or end up in ICU i think more ppl getting 1 is worth it.

 

Plus in the long run the increased efficacy from delayed 2nd shot may actually prove very valuable against more stubborn variants like this one even if in the short term it temporarily leaves a bigger window of spread vulnerability

The purpose of the second dose has been about maintaining longer term effectiveness of the vaccine rather than upping the effectiveness of the first from my understanding. Shifting the booster from after a month to after 2 or 3 months won't exactly provide very much benefit in terms vaccine supply if they still have to get it anyway.

[Rj Barker 3,331]

The delta variant is the dominant strain here now, hospital admissions are up. But only very slightly. I think it's roughly 14% of admissions are people who've had 1 dose and only like 5% who've had both doses.

Real world data from the UK looks quite promising. 

Also:

One shining light however is that vaccination still appears to be making an impact on spread,” she said, noting 73% of Delta cases are in unvaccinated people and only 3.7% Delta cases are in people who’ve had both doses, while only 5% of people hospitalised with this variant have had both jabs.

[Rj Barker 3,331]

3 minutes ago, godnhat said:

The purpose of the second dose has been about maintaining longer term effectiveness of the vaccine rather than upping the effectiveness of the first from my understanding. Shifting the booster from after a month to after 2 or 3 months won't exactly provide very much benefit in terms vaccine supply if they still have to get it anyway.

The second dose does increase efficacy as well as extending duration of protection. It's been proven that a longer duration between shots does result in higher levels of protection. Also this method allows better use of resources if they know when the supply is coming in. Why hold let's say 500,000 shots for a month to shove in arms as second doses when you can part immunise another 500,000 people as you know you have more coming down the pipeline soon.

[GagaSine 7,464]

My bf just got his 1st dose today, his next one is not until September.  I know they are trying to push second doses forward but I think only certain people qualify? I am not getting my 1st one until next week.

[Economy 52,844]

1 hour ago, godnhat said:

The purpose of the second dose has been about maintaining longer term effectiveness of the vaccine rather than upping the effectiveness of the first from my understanding. Shifting the booster from after a month to after 2 or 3 months won't exactly provide very much benefit in terms vaccine supply if they still have to get it anyway.

I dont think thats exactly true. There is a boosting effect in strength. Yes its partly about increasing how long it lasts but the immunity is also stronger as antibody count is maxed out by 2nd shot

[Economy 52,844]

29 minutes ago, GagaSine said:

My bf just got his 1st dose today, his next one is not until September.  I know they are trying to push second doses forward but I think only certain people qualify? I am not getting my 1st one until next week.

For now those over 80 and starting tomorrow those over 70 and those who got first shot April 18th or before

 

But the plan is to push everyones eligeability forward if vaccine shipments remain at current levels and on schedule

 

His next one may say September now but theres a good chance he will be able to get it before that although once ur given an appointment date if theres a change in eligeability i think u have to manually change it or it will remain as originally booked

 

Ans good luck with ur 1st shot btw!!!!!!

 

[CCSir 410]

Tbh, this could have been more problematic in the U.S. where they already lifted mask requirements for those fully vaxxed, but in most of Canada, virtually all possible measures are still in place. In Quebec, I'm still working from home for the foreseeable future, you can't mix more than two family bubbles anywhere, and mask mandates are going strong. Assuming people follow the laws in place (granted, that's a bit of a reach), the strategy makes sense because we're basically still in quarantine. 

I think Canada remains one of the most cautious countries overall, in terms of public health recommendations at least. I'm super eager to have a normal life again, but I don't see it happening anytime soon, so hopefully that ought to limit the spread until second-dose coverage catches up.

[Economy 52,844]

7 minutes ago, CCSir said:

Tbh, this could have been more problematic in the U.S. where they already lifted mask requirements for those fully vaxxed, but in most of Canada, virtually all possible measures are still in place. In Quebec, I'm still working from home for the foreseeable future, you can't mix more than two family bubbles anywhere, and mask mandates are going strong. Assuming people follow the laws in place (granted, that's a bit of a reach), the strategy makes sense because we're basically still in quarantine. 

I think Canada remains one of the most cautious countries overall, in terms of public health recommendations at least. I'm super eager to have a normal life again, but I don't see it happening anytime soon, so hopefully that ought to limit the spread until second-dose coverage catches up.

Yeah. Looks like they arent taking chances this time as before when reopening was done too fast waves always came back stronger than the last...

 

So even tho ppl are tired of masks and restrictions... i think that its smart that even with 70% of adults having a shot and cases consistently dropping they are still keeping cautious

 

Last thing i want is for us to reopen too fast then get a 4th wave ruin summer. As things are going we might actually get a close to normal summer if we dont get ahead of ourselves now... 

 

Id rather wait till July when stages in my Province will probably have most restrictions lifted but then enjoy rest of summer than open immediately prematurely and risk ruining everything. 

 

Also many businesses simply wont survive yet another screwup that forces us to shutdown yet again...

 

Better for everyone to stick it out another 2-3 weeks now then reopen for good then open now but then have to shut down again for 2 months

 

Given the variants being so much more transmissible and some also appear stronger too we cant take it for granted that we will be fine just cuz most ppl already got 1 shot

[PartySick 172,486]

1 hour ago, GagaSine said:

My bf just got his 1st dose today, his next one is not until September.  I know they are trying to push second doses forward but I think only certain people qualify? I am not getting my 1st one until next week.

Holy crap

Here I was thinking getting my first shot around April 20th (don't remember the exact day) and 2nd on May 24th was a long gap.

Here's hoping policies shift so y'all can get fully vaxxed sooner

[Economy 52,844]

26 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Holy crap

Here I was thinking getting my first shot around April 20th (don't remember the exact day) and 2nd on May 24th was a long gap.

Here's hoping policies shift so y'all can get fully vaxxed sooner

I dont regret our policies even with the Delta variant situation. I think giving more people some degree of protection is still better than giving fewer people total protection (especially since 1st shot gives more than half of protection anyway its not a 50%-50% thing like a glass half filled)

 

I got my shot middle of May my dad late April. I have my 2nd shot only booked for September and my dad August

 

But weve been told in reality if theres no major delays in shipments we will be able to book sooner (they already moved up the dates for some groups of people)... 

 

The long innitial gap was made to make sure 2nd shots didnt interfear with supplies for 1st shots since were prioritizing 1st shots but everything is indicating everyones appointments will be brought forward like they already did with the elderly

 

We might actually have a summer

[Ronk 14,930]

3 hours ago, Economy said:

Me checking online to find out the second im eligeable for 2nd shot

 

I always knew you're a cool cat.