When Gwenny Farrell booked her second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on the first day it became available, she said she believed she was doing the right thing.
The resident of
On
"I'm frustrated because now, after being told for months that the best vaccine is the first one that's in your arm, I'm being told I may have made a mistake," Farrell, 55, said.
The new recommendation is drawing mixed reaction from those who've already received two jabs of
The committee's guidance is based on the growing supply of mRNA vaccines, growing evidence that a second dose of an mRNA vaccine produces a stronger immune response, and because of the low but serious risk of vaccine-induced blood clots associated with
"People who received two doses of
The committee also updated its previous recommendation that people at high risk of exposure to, or serious illness from, COVID-19, could opt to get
However, officials in
"The very real world evidence shows us we have good protection across the board with both vaccines in our community," B.C. provincial health officer Dr.
As of
There are no further shipments of
"I mean I'm fully vaccinated, that's amazing," she said.
Nadeau said she made the best decision she could with the information available at the time. As a single mother who hasn't been able to see her parents in a long time, it was important to get the first vaccine that was available.
As a public relations professional, Nadeau said she has a lot of empathy for those responsible for communicating what she understands to be naturally evolving recommendations as new evidence becomes available.
"There are no perfect choices when it comes to COVID-19," she said, adding the pandemic has made everyone develop risk assessment skills.
"I really do feel like for the last year and a half, every single thing has become an assessment of risk: from masks, to letting my kids out, to seeing my parents or choosing not to in this case. By this point, I've kind of become emotionally prepared for the story to change."
He said his message to other British Columbians who have received two doses is the same: "Don't worry, you're fully vaccinated."
Others aren't so sure.
He now plans to cancel his
Slavitch said he's particularly concerned about whether his
"I'm confused about what to do," he said. "Our government is responsible for cleaning up this mess."
This report by
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