After vaccination in 7 questions

While the third wave continues to slow in Quebec, which is hampered by the increasingly important vaccination, Newspaper Take a look at some of the questions the public may be asking themselves in the coming weeks.

Also read: COVID-19: Quebec has 1,106 new cases and 13 deaths

Are there risks in getting a second dose that is different from the first?

No. Because there is very little data, the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) recommends using the same vaccine for both doses, but if the latter is not available, then one dose of another vaccine can be given without problem.

However, it is necessary to give priority to vaccination using a technology similar to the first injection. For example, two RNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna messenger can be exchanged and provide an equivalent immune response.

“Their potency, immunomodulatory, and reactive properties are very similar,” explains INSPQ.

Can any vaccine be mixed?

We are not sure yet. At this time, mixing two different vaccines is not recommended, for example Pfizer messenger RNA vaccine and AstraZeneca viral vector vaccine.

However, a study is currently underway in the United Kingdom to test the effectiveness of combining these two vaccines.

D^s Alain Lamarre, professor of immunology and virology at the National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS), believes that this kind of “crossing over” could lead to a better immune response.

In theory, there will be advantages to sharing these vaccines because we can target two different immune pathways and thus have broader preventive coverage. ”

When will we see a return to some semblance of normality?

Public Health Canada estimates that it could start this summer, assuming 75% of the country’s population will receive the first dose of the vaccine and 20% in the second.

But it will not be an immediate return to normal life because the federation is considering gradually lifting health measures in mid-July. Currently, 30% of Canadians have received a first injection, but only 3% have received a second dose.

As for how long some measures such as wearing the mask will remain, the answer is not clear. Experts don’t know if it’s a matter of months or years.

Why should people continue to follow hygienic procedures after a second dose?

The vaccine prevents severe infection from COVID-19, but it is not yet clear whether it helps prevent the virus from spreading. Thus, it is possible that the vaccinated person will become infected with the virus, without complications, and infect other people.

When will I be vaccinated?

Currently, vaccination is aimed at people aged 60 or over, people with health problems or working in high-risk environments.

In Quebec, we aim to have a first dose of the vaccine vaccinated for all people over the age of 16 who want to have it by June 24. Studies are ongoing to allow children under 16 years of age to be vaccinated.

Since there is a maximum of 16 weeks between two doses, the entire Quebec population should be vaccinated by October 14, if the deadlines are met.

What vaccine will the rest of the adult population get?

It is most likely from Pfizer. By July 4, nearly 5.3 million doses of US drugs must be delivered to the county. It is by far the most widely available in Quebec.

Around 524,000 doses of AstraZeneca will soon be sold in the county and no delivery is expected by the end of the month.

For Moderna, 137,200 doses should be sent to Quebec between April 26 and May 2. Other shipments are coming.

300,000 initial doses (out of 2 million) of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are expected to arrive in the country next week.

Could I need to be vaccinated again in the next few years?

Yes, it is possible.

Through distribution where conditions are ripe for the creation of new variants, as in countries where vaccination is less advanced, the virus can become resistant to existing vaccines.

According to Dr.^s Alain Lamarre, when potential SARS-CoV-2 mutations reach us, we may need a booster shot or a suitable vaccine.

“We can expect that after a year or two, we will have virtually no immunity to the strains that are currently in circulation.”

The balance sheet continues to improve

Since almost Friday 1,300 elderly people In CHSLDs they have completed vaccination coverage with a second dose different from the first in Capitale-Nationale.

Within 24 hours, 139 new cases and two deaths were added to the Quebec tally and three people were hospitalized. In Chaudière-Appalaches, there are 146 new cases and two more deaths, but hospitalizations are stable.