Canadians encouraged to see mRNA shots as interchangeable as more 2nd doses open up

TORONTO — Officials and experts emphasized the interchangeability of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines on Monday as shipment delays led to alterations in Canadians’ second-dose appointments.  

The federal government has said Pfizer’s weekly shipment of 2.4 million doses is delayed and will arrive mid-week. That left provinces switching Pfizer appointments for Moderna, and urging people not to cancel their jabs.

In Ontario, residents were informed they might get a different mRNA vaccine as many became eligible to book accelerated second shots on Monday. 

The province’s top doctor urged people not to hesitate if offered Moderna after getting Pfizer for their first shot. 

“We want you getting the full protection as soon as possible,” said Dr. David Williams, noting that the highly transmissible Delta variant, which partially vaccinated people remain vulnerable to, was still spreading. “The vaccines are safe to mix.”

Alberta also advised residents that the vaccine appointments might have to change based on supply, and noted that the two mRNA shots are considered interchangeable.

“At this time, there is more Moderna available. If you book for Moderna, you will be able to get an earlier appointment and thus complete your series,” Alberta Health Services said in a tweet Monday. 

In Manitoba, officials encouraged adults to get Moderna shots and warned the province might have to cancel Pfizer appointments booked after July 7 due to the supply slowdown.

Quebec Premier François Legault told reporters that experts have suggested there’s slight additional protection associated with changing vaccines for a second dose, with a low risk of secondary effects from mixing.

“Our public health is saying you can have the same one, or a mix, the advantages are a lot higher than the very small risk,” Legault said Monday.

In Ontario – where 76 per cent of adults have had a first dose and 24 per cent are fully immunized – those who got a first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 9 were able to book second doses starting at 8 a.m. Monday. Residents in Delta hot spots who got their initial jabs on or before May 30 can do the same on Wednesday. 

Some said they were still digesting the news regarding mixing mRNA vaccines. 

Krystyna Szajkowski, who received Pfizer as her first shot, said she was nervous about the possibility of mixing doses. 

“I was concerned and I was prepared to say no,” said the 81-year-old Mississauga, Ont., resident who ended up being offered Pfizer for her second jab Monday.

Many others, however, had no qualms over mixing mRNA shots. 

“I did my research and got comfortable with it,” Matab Shehab, 22, said heading into her Moderna appointment. “Besides my fear of needles, I’m fine.” 

Toronto’s Humber River Hospital started switching to Moderna appointments on Sunday, following direction from Toronto Public Health. 

Lisa Bitonti-Bengert, the hospital’s senior director for clinical innovation, estimated that between 25 and 30 per cent of people opted to wait for Pfizer when informed of the change.

Staff have been talking to people outside the mass clinic at Downsview Arena, she said, explaining the science, the risks posed by variants of the virus, and offering reassurance.

“People aren’t quite convinced yet of the interchangeability,” Bitonti-Bengert said.

Many of those choosing to wait for Pfizer are able to work from home, she said, while essential workers appeared more likely to make the switch to Moderna.

Several experts encouraged people to get whichever of the two mRNA shots they’re offered as their second dose.

Dr. Jeff Kwong, an epidemiologist with the University of Toronto, said he was worried about walkouts after hearing about this week’s delayed Pfizer shipment. 

His concern, based on anecdotal and news reports about vaccine brand preference among Canadians, motivated him to tweet out analyses of data compiled by the independent research organization ICES that show two doses of Moderna are “just as good” as two of Pfizer in preventing infections.

“Don’t wait and put yourself at risk of getting COVID,” Kwong said in an interview. “Just get the Moderna, because it’s equivalent to the Pfizer.”

If enough people choose to delay getting their shots based on brand preference, Kwong said it could set progress back as people rejoin the lengthy queue for appointments. That could risk letting the Delta variant take off and in turn delay reopening plans, he said. 

“We really have to not let this mess up our campaign,” he said. 

Other experts expressed similar sentiment, noting people regularly get different brands of other vaccines without thinking twice.

Governments have noted that youth will continue to receive the Pfizer shot since it is currently the only one approved in Canada for those under 18.

– With files from Paola Loriggio, Denise Paglinawan in Mississauga, Ont., Kelly Geraldine Malone in Winnipeg and Sidhartha Banerjee in Montreal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2021.

Holly McKenzie-Sutter, The Canadian Press