B.C. AstraZeneca vaccine recipients can choose second dose

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – British Columbians who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for their first dose can get the same or either of the two mRNA vaccine brands for their second, the province’s top doctor says.

Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Thursday that B.C. will be following the latest guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), which says a shot of an mRNA vaccine, Moderna or Pfizer, can be the follow-up to a first dose of AstraZeneca.

The interval between the doses for people who received AstraZeneca is also being shortened from 13 weeks to eight.

If you received an AstraZeneca shot at a B.C. pharmacy, that pharmacy will reach out to you at least eight weeks after that dose to book your second AstraZeneca shot.

If you would prefer to get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as your second dose, you must ensure you are registered with the province’s Get Vaccinated system, through which you will be contacted after at least eight weeks.

Should you decide on the latter option, decline your appointment when the pharmacy contacts you for your second dose.

2. mRNA – pfizer or moderna at a community clinic across the province – again after 8 weeks.
DBH says there is evidence that waiting to 12 weeks is better for immunity.#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) June 3, 2021

However, if you had an mRNA shot as your first dose, NACI says you should be given an mRNA as your second shot.

Related articles:

• B.C. records 194 COVID-19 cases, Fraser Health remains hot spot

• Mixing, matching COVID-19 vaccines is safe, reasonable, say experts

• NACI says you can mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccines

Henry announced last week plans for people who are receiving their COVID-19 vaccines through the age-based program, through which Pfizer and Moderna is being administered, to be able to mix and match between those two brands.

“It is always preferable to have the same vaccine for both doses,” Henry said Thursday, adding NACI has said that it is still safe and effective to receive an mRNA vaccine as your second dose, regardless of what you received for your first dose.

In the past day, 61,541 doses of vaccine have been administered, for a total of 3,426,827. Of that total, 229,585 are second doses.

Henry says 71.8 per cent of all adults in B.C. and 68.9 per cent of British Columbians aged 12 and up have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

B.C. COVID-19 cases steady, hospitalizations decline

The province recorded 199 new infections in the past day, including 89 in the Fraser Health region and 68 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.

There are 224 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C., down from 246 on Wednesday. The number of patients in intensive care has also fallen from 70 to 62.

BC #covid19 Jun 3
2 deaths-total 1709
Recover 140537
VCH(34947)+68
FH(84315)+89
Int(12454)+34
Island(5062)+2
North(7689)+6
Hosp/ICU(246/70)224/62
Active(2662)2563#bcpoli @news1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) June 3, 2021

Two more people have died for a total of 1,709 since the pandemic began.