Chatham-Kent's top public health official is answering those questioning if we need the AstraZeneca vaccine when the supply of the other vaccines is good.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby told the health board at its monthly meeting on Wednesday that it's not that the AstraZeneca should be considered unsafe, it's just not as safe in terms of side effect profiles as some of the other vaccines that we have. AstraZenca has been linked to rare cases of blood clots.
Colby said first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are now being replaced at pharmacies and primary care offices with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, but second doses of the vaccine could still be AstraZeneca. He said the change has created some concern among those who have already received the AstraZeneca shot and that's why the health unit has embarked on a social media campaign to address those concerns and help reassure the public.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time. It was a good idea and if we didn't have the Messenger Rna vaccines, it would still be a good idea," said Colby.
Colby said last week there have been 2,400 AstraZeneca shots given in Chatham-Kent since March but no problems with blood clots have been reported locally.
He noted that the local vaccine rollout will soon transition from the mass vaccination clinic in Chatham to pharmacies and doctors' offices.
Dr. Colby is also taking aim at the anti-vaccine movement, saying it's a major source of vaccine misinformation. He said he's surprised by the number of people who believe the disinformation when there is overwhelming evidence that vaccines are generally safe, doctors are not in cahoots with pharmaceutical companies, and government can be trusted.
Colby said the best way to deal with anti-vaxxers is to ignore them. He added the public health unit in Chatham-Kent doesn't engage with them, it just presents the facts.
"This is not about freedom of speech. This is about spreading misinformation and even disinformation. It's something that has to be curtailed. We can't have people out there in a negative way propagandizing and misleading innocent people who simply don't know," the doctor said.
Colby also said Chatham-Kent's vaccine supply has doubled over the past week. He confirmed that the majority of vaccines are no longer going to hot spots in Ontario and the supply is back to being distributed on a per capita basis.
Dr. Colby added almost 50 per cent of those eligible to get the vaccine in Chatham-Kent have received at least one dose. He noted 90 per cent of those 65 and older have received their first dose.
