What are the odds?

COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines seem to be the topic of discussion on everyone’s minds and in the news lately. In recent weeks, there have been lots of concerns of blood clots with the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine and how it stacks up against the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.

Regardless of what you’ve heard, here are the facts that we do know:

If you catch COVID-19 in Ontario, the average death rate for all ages is about 1 in 50.

All of the approved vaccines in Canada are very good at protecting against severe disease (hospitalization and death). The rate of protection for the AZ vaccine, after two doses, is 100%. And it works against the variants too (UK’s B.117, South Africa’s B.1.351 and Brazil’s P1 variants).

The AZ vaccine appears to be connected with rare cases of serious blood clots called 'vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia' (VIPIT):

• The clots may occur 4-20 days after vaccination
• The frequency is very rare ranging from one in every 125,000 to one in the 1 million (see infographic for more info)
• They are linked to low platelets (the blood cells that help form blood clots to stop bleeding)
• There seems to be a higher risk in patients under 55 years old, but the vaccine is still approved for patients 18 years and older as the benefits of protection against possible hospitalization and death far outweighs the very small risk of blood clots from the vaccine
• Contact us or go to ER if any of the following occur and let us know if you’ve recently received the AZ COVID-19 vaccine within 4-20 days:
  • severe headache that does not go away
  • seizure
  • chest pain
  • new blurry vision
  • difficulty moving part of your body
  • difficulty speaking
  • shortness of breath
  • severe abdominal pain
  • severe swelling, pain, or
  • colour change of arm/leg
• Healthcare professionals know how to diagnose and treat VIPIT and are more aware of this rare condition than before
• The clots are not believed to be more common in people who have had blood clots before, people with a family history of blood clots, people with a low platelets, people on blood thinners or pregnant women, because VIPIT does not develop through the same process as usual types of bleeding or clotting problems. So it is still safe to get the AZ COVID-19 vaccine, even if you fall into one of these groups.

Currently, Ontario is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 with younger people being affected at a higher rate. We are also experiencing unpredictable access to vaccines, so waiting for the preferred vaccine can be dangerous and fatal.

• The video Which COVID-19 vaccine is better? provides more information comparing the four different COVID vaccines available. 

Bottom line: Get the first vaccine available to you!

As of Tuesday, April 20^th, people 40 years of age and older (born 1981 or earlier) are eligible to receive the Astra Zeneca COVID vaccine.

If you are eligible for Astra Zeneca, you can book through participating pharmacies. Book an appointment with a local participating pharmacy here.

We hope to see as many people receive their first doses as quickly as possible.