VAX Number 2 - We are pumped! Go Astra Zeneca + Pfizer
 

So this might be a bit alien to a lot of Americans, but very, very common to Brits and Canadians.

Lots of us had the Astra Zeneca vax as first vax "pokes" back in March/April. Many, many in Canada, way more in UK.

But then, all these ****-storm stories about blood-clot ailments and deaths related to the AZ vax started to crop up.

So, here in Canada they gave people choices for second vax shots - if you had AZ (Astra Zeneca/Oxford) as your first shot you could get either Pfizer/Moderna RMA or AZ for your booster.

We checked out what we could and chose Pfizer for vax shot 2! Fingers crossed!

It's a bit of a challenge here to know what's happening with second shots -- the directions keep changing. I thought I was getting a second AZ shot, with a shortened window. But now the direction seems to be mrna -- and Ontario is receiving a huge number of Pfizer and Moderna this month.

It isn't really an option.
Over 2 million people received the Astra jab (me included).
There is only a little over 200,000 Astra doses left in the country.

I am scheduled for my second today. Pfizer.
My wife has had the same cocktail, Astra and then Pfizer yesterday.
She was feeling warmish last night and not great this morning.

Honestly, I think a "mix" of the regular with mRNA gives a better immune response. The UK was doing a study on this to compare Pfizer first, AZ second, AZ first, Pfizer second, then comparing them to All AZ an All Pfizer.

The engineer adjusts the sails then the sailor has to fix them,

Put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up.

How bad is the pandemic in Canada right now?

Is it in decline?

I haven't heard much about it lately except some of the other countries like India.

Good news. Canada has sure ramped up the vax progress! The US is slowing and unless some of the holdout states pick it up, I am concerned about a resurgence of Covid (delta) in the fall.

Canada is a big country. In Ontario it appears to be on the decline.
I might even get a hair cut in a couple of weeks!

Canada will surpass the US in percentage vaccinated fairly soon. Our demand is constant, the US appears to have peaked.

Took all of 10 minutes from arriving to receive the second dose at the Telus convention centre in calgary. Waiting my 15 min and on my way back to work.
Well oiled machine at this point. Well organized and fast with an easy online booking system.

Pfizer gave me shingles! It sucks!

My understanding is that AZ will not be recognized as a valid vaccine in the USA, anywhere that requires vaccines (which supposedly includes live theater in NY) will be a no-go zone for people with AZ.

noooo..!!

i just got my booster for shingles and that was worse. my arm hurt for maybe 5 days, and i felt like i had a fever but my temps were perfect. it was an enigma. chills, aches, but perfect body temps.

How did a vaccination give you shingles?

Is the theory that getting the vaccine lowered your immune response due to stress on the system that allowed the shingles floating around inside you to do its thing?

I had heard this too. Even border crossing, those with the astra vaccine may not be eligible.

I heard that as well. I had 2 AZ shots. If that's true that I can't cross the land border I'll be severely pissed.:mad:

Herd immunity will be reached, one way or another. Either by vaccine or by "natural" immunity.

James and I share a first name, but we do not always have the same perspective. In this case, we do. I have only glanced at the numbers, but I am skeptical about this conclusion about AZ increasing the odds of blood clotting. The numbers suggest those odds are similar to a lightning strike, at least the ones I saw.

The mix of AZ and Pfizer may be ideal. And in any case, you are now free to rejoin society. It feels REALLY good to me. Today I had my first fast food double cheeseburger in a year. It was delicious. It was a spiritual experience.