Most islanders accepting Moderna as 2nd vaccine dose, though some hesitant
People streaming into the Victoria Conference Centre Wednesday for a second COVID-19 vaccine shot all received Moderna for their second dose.
Many people on Vancouver Island and across the province got a Pfizer shot for their first dose, but a lack of supply of Pfizer – once dubbed the "workhorse" vaccine for B.C. – and a sudden surge of Moderna has led to a temporary shift, leaving Moderna as the vaccine being put in arms at most clinics right now.
Medical experts, including Dr. Gerald Evans, an infectious disease specialist at Queen’s University, say Pfizer and Moderna are effectively the same product, just created by different manufacturers.
"These are identical vaccines, they are using the identical template," said Evans Wednesday.
Still, Dr. Mike Benusic, who is in charge of mass vaccinations for Island Health, acknowledges that some people are getting upset when offered Moderna – with some refusing it and holding out hopes for a Pfizer shot later.
"There have been some isolated incidents of people choosing not to get their second dose at the clinic that day," said Benusic, emphasizing that the vast majority of people are accepting Moderna for their second shot.
He says the stress of the pandemic may be contributing to certain reactions, but there have been rare occasions when people get upset when their vaccine of choice isn’t offered at their mass vaccination clinic.
"There have been a few instances where people get angry if there brand is not available," said Benusic.
The bias for the Pfizer brand, despite both vaccines being deemed equally effective and safe to mix, comes down to branding, says Evans.
"This availability bias where, 'Wow, I just heard lots about Pfizer every time I read,'" said Evans. "Every time something is mentioned it’s Pfizer, and so people really get used to the idea, 'This must be the best vaccine, because I hear about it a lot.'"
Island Health encourages people to take either shot when offered. It says you are free to decline a Moderna shot and reschedule an appointment, but there’s no guarantee you'll get Pfizer the next time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.