'Choose increased antibodies over brand': Moderna appointments still being cancelled in London, Ont. area
Doctors and pharmacists continue to advocate for people to get the first available mRNA vaccine for their COVID-19 booster dose.
"We have had some feedback that appointments are being canceled because people are holding out for Pfizer," says Dr. Joyce Lock, the medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health (SWPH).
"I strongly strongly urge everyone, particularly those over the age of 50, to choose increased antibodies over brand," she added.
Lock made those statements during her weekly briefing on Jan 12.
"Our immunity following our original two doses is decreasing over time," says Lock. "Our bodies don't care what brand they receive. They follow the science, not the manufacturer. Studies show that immunity shoots back up after the booster and it doesn't matter which brand."
This week, First Ave. Pharmacy in St. Thomas, Ont. took to Facebook saying it had openings due to people refusing Moderna as a booster dose.Pharmacist Minh Nguyen of First Ave. Pharmacy in St. Thomas, Ont. on Jan.16, 2022. (Brent Lale / CTV News)"We send out a mass email saying that there's a shortage of Pfizer and we might have to offer them Moderna and some people would cancel their appointment online or they would call us and cancel their appointments," says Minh Nguyen, pharmacist at First Ave. Pharmacy. "Both Moderna and Pfizer are mRNA vaccines and equally effective at preventing severe illness from COVID. So I would say get whatever mRNA vaccine you can."
Sunday, the Metrolinx Go-VAXX bus returned to London, Ont. It was stationed in the parking lot at the new East Lions Community Centre on Brydges St.
They had some appointments booked, but we were even taking walk-ins with Pfizer being administered.
"I've had Pfizer for my first two shots and that's what I preferred," says Michael Sean MacVoy, a truck driver getting his booster. "At this point, I didn't care."
Diane Crozman was in the same scenario, getting Pfizer a third time. "It doesn't really make a difference to me,” she said. "They said the Moderna is going to work the same, but Pfizer that's good because I've already got the other two Pfizer."
Justin Seaward showed up for a walk-in booster, minutes after his wife went home from her booked appointment.
"I've had Pfizer, Moderna, then Pfizer now," says Seaward. "It didn't really make a difference much to me. I just wanted to be Vaxxed so I can feel safer for my family."The Middlesex-London Paramedic Service (MLPS) had administered 2,194 doses of vaccine over the past six days since starting pop-up clinics in Middlesex County.
The percentage of people upset that Moderna was being administered is very low.
"It has happened a few times at the front door, but very rare," says Miranda Bothwell, acting superintendent for special operations with MLPS.
They will be back on the road, continuing their pop-up clinic tour Monday in Lucan, Ont.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.