Source: CTV
Despite a rare risk of blood clots, a Canadian hematologist believes the benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks. Dr. Menaka Pai stated on Twitter that the vaccine is still safer than the risk of contracting COVIid-19. According to her, people are more likely to develop clotting from the virus itself than from an AstraZeneca vaccine. “You can’t make better predictions when science is moving fast and the event is rare,” Pai said.
The federal government is stepping up its mass vaccination campaign in response to the flu pandemic, which has killed over 100,000 people in the United States so far this year and is expected to kill over 1,000 more by the end of the year. The flu season lasts until September 30th. The Canadian government is urging citizens to get their flu shots. The government is also urging people to avoid contact with infected people and to seek medical help if they believe they are at high risk of blood clotting.
The AstraZeneca vaccine has been given to over 700,000 people in Canada. Though there are no solid evidence to bind the relation between blood clots and the AstraZeneca vaccine, the European Medicine Agency still believes there may be a possible link. Nearly 13.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed in Canada, with more than 11 million doses administered.
The majority of deliveries are scheduled to take place between July and September, with the federal government expecting 1.9 million vaccine doses to be delivered next week. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) lowered the eligibility age to 30 and up. The NACI also lowered the minimum age for eligible adults to receive at least one vaccination.
