SCIENCE IS NOT THE TRUTH

Love this quote: Science is not the truth. Science is finding the truth. When science changes it's opinion, it did not lie to you, it learned more. (From Sandy, one of the members of this Facebook family)

Ontario has announced that the AstraZeneca vaccine will no longer be used for first doses. New information from statistics derived in Canada show that the risk of VITT ( Vaccine Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia- those rare but serious blood clots associated with the viral vector vaccines ) appears to be higher than originally determined in the EU and Great Britain. One in 60,000 instead of 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 250,000.

There are enough doses of Pfizer and Moderna to make up for the removal of this vaccine. It makes sense. Why would the experts continue to promote the AZ vaccine with this new information? "Science is not the truth. Science is finding the truth. When science changes it's position, it did not lie to you, it learned more".

We are also in a much better position this week than we were three weeks ago. It is still urgent to vaccinate everyone but cases are declining and we are no longer in a state of vaccine scarcity. We are now in a state of vaccine abundance....so offer the safest available.

If you received the first dose of the AZ vaccine, you absolutely did the correct thing. You saved lives at a time when transmission was out of control and you may have saved your own life.

It is anticipated that NACI will make recommendations within the week concerning the use of a mRNA vaccine ( Moderna or Pfizer) as a second dose for those that have received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. I will know more by week's end, including whether or not those that want a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be able to receive it.

A study of a "mismatched" vaccine regimen is underway in the U.K. Researchers at Oxford University launched a study in early February to explore the possible benefits of alternating different COVID-19 vaccines. The study (known as the COVID-19 Heterologous Prime Boost study, or "Com-COV"- cause we love long titles in medicine and science) is collecting data to determine whether receiving two different types of vaccine generates an immune response at least equal to the response that follows receiving the same product twice.

Early results....administering two doses of different products like the AstraZeneca vaccine first and the Pfizer of Moderna vaccine second seems to allow for a greater boost in a person's immune response than using the same vaccine for both doses. Translated, you develop a greater immunity to COVID-19 with two different vaccines. Go figure. That is science learning more and you and I receiving the benefits of that knowledge.

Just three new cases in guelph today......this it what happens when you approach a 50 % vaccination rate.

Much to hope for and we are being so well cared for.

Anne-Marie

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