Stéphanie Lesieur, beneficiary attendant in a CHSLD de Boucherville was vaccinated last December. Gabrielle Voisine, a doctor from Montérégie, in February. Both of them wait desperately to get their date for the second dose, to no avail.
Dosage change
Yet when the vaccines were made available to countries, manufacturers indicated that the second dose, to be effective, had to be done within 21 days of the first shot. This period has been revised upwards.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced that the time between the administration of the two doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine will be extended to four months.
Vaccination of healthcare workers
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Efficacy studies carried out in the field, both here in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada and internationally, show that the vaccine offers significant protection after the administration of a first dose, i.e. 80%.
, indicates the ministry.
A change in dosage that puzzles the two health workers. We no longer know what to believe
, said Ms. Lesieur, raising the possibility that this new information is incorrect. What will happen then? It will generate costs
, she adds, implying that the first dose may have been for nothing.
Seniors are given priority to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Pasquale Harrison-Julien
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I do not know if it is correct to vaccinate with so much difference between the two doses
, adds Dr. Voisine. The latter expressed her frustration with the vaccination campaign on social networks. She believes that the nursing staff should get the second injection quickly, since he is at the front.
There is a certain nonsense in the order in which we do things. It would be important for health care workers to be immunized. With a single dose of vaccine, we have a 50% immunization, while with two doses we can get 90-95%, said the INSPQ.
Consequences on the health system
According to her, not fully immunizing health workers can have consequences for the system itself. Indeed, a sick employee must isolate himself. So that makes a pair of arms less on the field. In addition, they become vectors of transmission.
Update on immunization in Canada:
In Canada, 1,380,063 people (3.63% of the population) have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
- 841,878 people (2.22% of the population) received a single dose.
- 538,185 people (1.42% of the population) received two doses.
- 52.80% of healthcare workers have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
- 29.91% received a single dose.
- 22.89% received two doses.
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Claude Talbot, president of the union of employees of the CHUM – where 7,029 people received a first dose – agrees.
It’s really improvisation. The danger is that we are at the heart of the action so if we are not vaccinated, we are the ones who will infect patients.
Ms. Voisine and Ms. Lesieur could not have any news regarding an appointment date for their second dose. It is not, however, for lack of trying to obtain answers.
According to Dr. Voisine, her case is not isolated. Asked about the subject, the CHUM indicates that its employees will have news as soon as the establishment has received the doses of vaccines. according to the priorities established by the ministry and the public health department
.
In addition, the Ministry of Health returns the responsibility to the suppliers. We have always mentioned that the pace of the vaccination campaign depends on the delivery of vaccines and that any vaccines we have received will be used in such a way as to immunize as many people as possible with priority groups.
, he says by email.
With information from Marie-Michelle Lauzon
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