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Are you ready for a long painful Twitter thread on vaccine strategies?
Let's start with these two conflicting headlines. One says delaying 2nd doses is dangerous. The other says that a 1st dose blitz is highly effective.
Ready for the kicker? Both are correct.
Let's start with these two conflicting headlines. One says delaying 2nd doses is dangerous. The other says that a 1st dose blitz is highly effective.
Ready for the kicker? Both are correct.
The data comes from Scotland. Both AstraZeneca and Pfizer were used in Scotland with a first dose whole population strategy.
The rate of death and hospitalization dropped dramatically.
Data also shows that efficacy of a single drops after 5 weeks. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/scotlands-vaccine-rollout-suggests-delaying-162809564.html
The rate of death and hospitalization dropped dramatically.
Data also shows that efficacy of a single drops after 5 weeks. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/scotlands-vaccine-rollout-suggests-delaying-162809564.html
But how much does the efficacy drop? On further review of the source data, I wasn't as impressed with the findings as stated in the article. Finding myself stuck, I went with my favorite go to solution and talked to an expert.
This is the world of the epidemiologist.
This is the world of the epidemiologist.
He supported my suspicion and explained that the confidence interval is so wide that the difference in efficacy for the Pfizer shot could be as low is 1-5%, not the huge drop that was stated.
The data is however suggestive that efficacy does drop.
So where does that leave us?
The data is however suggestive that efficacy does drop.
So where does that leave us?
It actually leaves with more uncertainty.
We don't have data going out 4 months to support efficacy of a single dose.
We don't have comparable populations to Scotland due to differences in initial infection rates.
We don't know how the variants will impact vaccine efficacy.
We don't have data going out 4 months to support efficacy of a single dose.
We don't have comparable populations to Scotland due to differences in initial infection rates.
We don't know how the variants will impact vaccine efficacy.
Furthermore, our population is not homogeneous.
We have elderly and immunocompromised patients who will not have the same protection as a young healthy person.
There are also frontline workers with only one dose.
#Cdnpoli #COVID19 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/vaccine-dose-delay-canada-covid-19-research-1.5965996
We have elderly and immunocompromised patients who will not have the same protection as a young healthy person.
There are also frontline workers with only one dose.
#Cdnpoli #COVID19 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/vaccine-dose-delay-canada-covid-19-research-1.5965996
So what's the answer?
Truthfully. I don't know.
It could be a hybrid solution of 2nd doses for the elderly, immunocompromised, frontline workers, and warehouse workers combined with a 1st dose blitz once those groups are covered.
#Cdnpoli #COVID19 https://globalnews.ca/news/7781189/alberta-shorter-covid-19-vaccine-intervals-vulnerable/
Truthfully. I don't know.
It could be a hybrid solution of 2nd doses for the elderly, immunocompromised, frontline workers, and warehouse workers combined with a 1st dose blitz once those groups are covered.
#Cdnpoli #COVID19 https://globalnews.ca/news/7781189/alberta-shorter-covid-19-vaccine-intervals-vulnerable/
Ultimately, it's my hope that the Americans ride in like in the movies and save us from this complete mess.
With Pfizer doses now coming from the US and a reported glut of vaccine doses in the Southern states, this hope may be our best solution.
#COVID19 https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/pfizer-to-export-u-s-made-covid-19-shots-to-canada-starting-next-week-1.5409267
With Pfizer doses now coming from the US and a reported glut of vaccine doses in the Southern states, this hope may be our best solution.
#COVID19 https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/pfizer-to-export-u-s-made-covid-19-shots-to-canada-starting-next-week-1.5409267
