We at The Line respect debate, and we're willing to be critical of government actions on COVID. What we are not willing to do is be a platform to spread Facebook-fueled conspiracy fear mongering about vaccines here. Comments of this nature will be deleted.
We acknowledge the risks of the vaccine very clearly and openly in this piece. The risks warrant discussion. Not misinformation.
I am more outraged with Trudeau's sneering comments about Conservative Canadians. I thought we were all in this together. Right. BTW, I am 56 and healthy. I went thru the range of emotions and read every article that came my way about AZ. I felt that my age group was ... somewhat disposable. Not a good time to be middle aged and healthy, said no one ever. Yesterday I decided to get over my first world entitlement, trust the experts and get the shot. I called a pharmacy a block away and got my shot within the hour.
Regarding the Saskatchewan Health Authority tweet, they seem to have altered the original blood clot risk image from Thrombosis Canada. The 14 per cent risk factor is for covid-19 *hospitalizations*, not *infections* which is a materially different number. I absolutely agree that health agencies have botched risk communication, but they should try to fix this by overstating the risk of clots from infections. Health Agencies can't fix misinformation with more misinformation.
I am screaming. I love this piece. This. This is the articulation of my fury when I hear people who have no medical degrees or training discuss vaccines. Thank you Jen Gerson.
Brilliant! This is exactly how I feel. It's difficult telling vaccine hesitant friends and family that their decisions to not get vaccinated are essentially selfishness but that's really what it boils down to.
Thinking about this article yesterday. I'm a nurse vaccinator in Montreal, where the guidelines have recently been updated to include young people in certain work conditions. While it was a pleasure to be giving the "jab" to these deserving 20-somethings, I have to mention anecdotally that they too are vaccine shopping. We are doing both AZ and Pfizer in our clinc and oh yeah, they've got opinions. Prepare for your criticisms of middle-agers to be just as relevant as we shimmy down the age group ladder.
Anyone who is critical of government or media messaging should perhaps be careful to be accurate in their own messaging. To say, as the article does, “now it's not approved for those under the age of 55. “ is not accurate. The following is quoted from a CBC April 14th article:
“Health Canada is standing by the approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for all adult ages despite some international hesitancy to use the shots because of rare but severe blood clots.
The Canadian regulator updated guidance to citizens and the medical community Wednesday saying AstraZeneca vaccine recipients should be warned about the 1-in-250,000 risk of blood clots but immunization should continue as most of Canada struggles to control a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases.
“Where the risk of COVID is moderate or high, as it is in many parts of the country, the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh the risks, in all age groups,” said Supriya Sharma, Health Canada’s chief medical adviser.”
The above appears to parallel the theme of the article, not contradict it.
Rather than simply throwing darts at governments, officials and vaccine hesitant individuals, (many of which are deserved) there are alternatives. Considering that Aztrazeneca is approved, the easiest solution to get more jabs in arms is to open bookings up to younger age groups.
In Alberta at the moment only those over 54 are eligible. There is a very good chance that the plus 54 demographic is hesitant because they see that Phase 2D for Pfizer and Moderna is only two or three weeks away.
The present reality is that Astrazeneca is approved for use by all adults in Canada and that it is provincial governments that are deciding who can get it. Instead of targeting those who are on the threshold of getting a different drug, why not target a broader demographic?
I'm not exactly responding to Jen's thesis. At this point, my "shopping" is delayed due to the now demonstrably paternalistic stance of NACI and the provincial governments about the risks associated with the AZ jab. To be clear, I will take the first jab available to me. I just wish the [insert your home province here] government would give me the opportunity to sign up for the AZ jab that languishes in storage in my province!
We at The Line respect debate, and we're willing to be critical of government actions on COVID. What we are not willing to do is be a platform to spread Facebook-fueled conspiracy fear mongering about vaccines here. Comments of this nature will be deleted.
We acknowledge the risks of the vaccine very clearly and openly in this piece. The risks warrant discussion. Not misinformation.
This old boomer really loves what you have to say. You and millions of young people are a credit to our excellent education system. Hint hint UCP!
I am more outraged with Trudeau's sneering comments about Conservative Canadians. I thought we were all in this together. Right. BTW, I am 56 and healthy. I went thru the range of emotions and read every article that came my way about AZ. I felt that my age group was ... somewhat disposable. Not a good time to be middle aged and healthy, said no one ever. Yesterday I decided to get over my first world entitlement, trust the experts and get the shot. I called a pharmacy a block away and got my shot within the hour.
Thank-you for expressing my rage perfectly.
Subscribed based on this piece alone.
Regarding the Saskatchewan Health Authority tweet, they seem to have altered the original blood clot risk image from Thrombosis Canada. The 14 per cent risk factor is for covid-19 *hospitalizations*, not *infections* which is a materially different number. I absolutely agree that health agencies have botched risk communication, but they should try to fix this by overstating the risk of clots from infections. Health Agencies can't fix misinformation with more misinformation.
I am screaming. I love this piece. This. This is the articulation of my fury when I hear people who have no medical degrees or training discuss vaccines. Thank you Jen Gerson.
good one, jen
Hooray Jen Gerson!
Thank you, Jen. Exceptional piece of writing. Best subscription I have.
And..... cue the whiny anti-vaxx brigade so part of western privilege culture.... here we go.
Excellent, Jen.
Brilliant! This is exactly how I feel. It's difficult telling vaccine hesitant friends and family that their decisions to not get vaccinated are essentially selfishness but that's really what it boils down to.
Thinking about this article yesterday. I'm a nurse vaccinator in Montreal, where the guidelines have recently been updated to include young people in certain work conditions. While it was a pleasure to be giving the "jab" to these deserving 20-somethings, I have to mention anecdotally that they too are vaccine shopping. We are doing both AZ and Pfizer in our clinc and oh yeah, they've got opinions. Prepare for your criticisms of middle-agers to be just as relevant as we shimmy down the age group ladder.
Anyone who is critical of government or media messaging should perhaps be careful to be accurate in their own messaging. To say, as the article does, “now it's not approved for those under the age of 55. “ is not accurate. The following is quoted from a CBC April 14th article:
“Health Canada is standing by the approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for all adult ages despite some international hesitancy to use the shots because of rare but severe blood clots.
The Canadian regulator updated guidance to citizens and the medical community Wednesday saying AstraZeneca vaccine recipients should be warned about the 1-in-250,000 risk of blood clots but immunization should continue as most of Canada struggles to control a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases.
“Where the risk of COVID is moderate or high, as it is in many parts of the country, the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh the risks, in all age groups,” said Supriya Sharma, Health Canada’s chief medical adviser.”
The above appears to parallel the theme of the article, not contradict it.
Rather than simply throwing darts at governments, officials and vaccine hesitant individuals, (many of which are deserved) there are alternatives. Considering that Aztrazeneca is approved, the easiest solution to get more jabs in arms is to open bookings up to younger age groups.
In Alberta at the moment only those over 54 are eligible. There is a very good chance that the plus 54 demographic is hesitant because they see that Phase 2D for Pfizer and Moderna is only two or three weeks away.
The present reality is that Astrazeneca is approved for use by all adults in Canada and that it is provincial governments that are deciding who can get it. Instead of targeting those who are on the threshold of getting a different drug, why not target a broader demographic?
I'm not exactly responding to Jen's thesis. At this point, my "shopping" is delayed due to the now demonstrably paternalistic stance of NACI and the provincial governments about the risks associated with the AZ jab. To be clear, I will take the first jab available to me. I just wish the [insert your home province here] government would give me the opportunity to sign up for the AZ jab that languishes in storage in my province!