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From what I've seen, availability at pharmacies is spotty, so I'm not confident I can find an appointment at one that I can actually get to...All COVID-19 vaccine appointments for the 12+ population are currently booked until January 2. We are working to open more appointments and will update you as we know more.
Pharmacies in Ottawa continue to offer vaccines to eligible residents.
When the ticketmaster crush was on for the first jabs, I was able to sign up for every pharmasave list (unfortunately each pharmacy has their own list... so get a form filler app) and they offered me appointments within 48 hours. Once I had one booked I also spent the time to go back and withdraw from the other pharmacies so someone could take my slot vs waiting for it to idle out waiting for a response on the SMS text.Max Peck wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 4:03 pm Unfortunately this part of Canada, at least, isn't swimming in vaccine. All the pharmacies I've checked either have wait lists or just have no available appointment slots this side of next year. Some family physicians are providing shots, but the clinic where my doctor works is not one of them.
I picked a pharmacy that's relatively easy to get to and put my name on their wait list. I can cancel that one if I scrounge up a dose someplace else, but I'm not holding my breathe.
Comments accurate note that it wasn't *detected* before 11/20, but it's accelerating fast.Amazingly, omicron, which wasn't present in Ontario on November 20, will be the dominant strain by later this week, and will replace delta by Christmas.
You might start hearing different things very soon. I think the early observations about being "mild" were likely...not correct.
And from what I understand, that may be... accurate but misleading? There is some context that's important there, as it is more able to reinfect people who have had it previously, which changes the metrics. Or something like that.Rumpy wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:35 pm I hear that while Omicron is more contagious, its symptoms are milder. That kind of tracks with what I've read about the 1918 pandemic, in that by the time the 4th or 5th wave came along, it was weaker, so there's that.
I was lucky on the first two rounds and was able to book an appointment on the day I became eligible to use the provincial portal and had an appointment within the first week. The month prior, when some pharmacies were doling out AZ was a complete bust though. I had no response from that until after I already had my first dose of Pfizer.FishPants wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 9:55 pmWhen the ticketmaster crush was on for the first jabs, I was able to sign up for every pharmasave list (unfortunately each pharmacy has their own list... so get a form filler app) and they offered me appointments within 48 hours. Once I had one booked I also spent the time to go back and withdraw from the other pharmacies so someone could take my slot vs waiting for it to idle out waiting for a response on the SMS text.Max Peck wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 4:03 pm Unfortunately this part of Canada, at least, isn't swimming in vaccine. All the pharmacies I've checked either have wait lists or just have no available appointment slots this side of next year. Some family physicians are providing shots, but the clinic where my doctor works is not one of them.
I picked a pharmacy that's relatively easy to get to and put my name on their wait list. I can cancel that one if I scrounge up a dose someplace else, but I'm not holding my breathe.
Tam was on the news today saying how badly everyone needs a booster, and provinces should be dropping the age gates now -- ironically less than a month ago she was saying nobody needs a booster and to relax. I'm pretty sure if I met her in person, I might actually kick her in the box.
That would be key. I didn't realize it could reinfect people. That's quite worrying. I can only hope that if it's weaker though, that we''re on a downward slope however many other variants we end up getting. Think it took over 5 years for for 1918 variant to become to no longer become a threat.Blackhawk wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:42 pmAnd from what I understand, that may be... accurate but misleading? There is some context that's important there, as it is more able to reinfect people who have had it previously, which changes the metrics. Or something like that.Rumpy wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:35 pm I hear that while Omicron is more contagious, its symptoms are milder. That kind of tracks with what I've read about the 1918 pandemic, in that by the time the 4th or 5th wave came along, it was weaker, so there's that.
Bonus factoid: Ostriches are very resistant to coronavirus, and their eggs with the antibodies can have the antibodies extracted to make nasal drops that can act as emergency treatment that's far cheaper than the monoclonal antibodies.In a small study, test subjects wore the masks, and after eight hours, the filters were removed and sprayed with a chemical that glows under ultraviolet light if the virus is present. The filters worn by people infected with COVID-19 glowed around the nose and mouth areas.
Right now, it's too early to tell. South Africa only informed WHO of omicron on 11/24, and so far, based on ONE hospital chain in one province reporting, is that all their patients with Omicron recovered in shorter time than those with Delta variants, with no deaths.Rumpy wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:35 pm I hear that while Omicron is more contagious, its symptoms are milder. That kind of tracks with what I've read about the 1918 pandemic, in that by the time the 4th or 5th wave came along, it was weaker, so there's that.
Kasey Chang wrote: Tue Dec 14, 2021 1:46 am Antivaxxers are already claiming "that's why we should let everyone get infected with Omicron, to make the next variant less deadly! Never vax!"
Valid, but the world was already boosting because the evidence was there of antibodies waning, and we stuck with the status quo - age gating, and navel gazing. I find it frustrating (I can't even buy a fucking rapid test at the pharmacy, I need to hand $40 over to the Weston family to do it for me if I want one.).Max Peck wrote: Tue Dec 14, 2021 12:02 am
A month ago the Omicron variant didn't exist (that anyone knew of), and the science community was divided over whether boosters would actually be useful yet. If we were still only dealing with Delta, boosters wouldn't be needed as urgently.
I wish that was the case, we have tons of supply - the government has been age gating vaccine boosters to 70+ then 50+ because who the fuck knows why. Literally the doses in the freezer, but here we are parcelling them out for some unknown reason. At least the 50+ crowd was showing up for the shots.Smoove_B wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 10:11 pm I can't speak to all of Canada, but I did just see this regarding Ontario and it might explain why it's difficult to get a booster (or get tested):
https://twitter.com/DFisman/status/1470440656992677892
Comments accurate note that it wasn't *detected* before 11/20, but it's accelerating fast.Amazingly, omicron, which wasn't present in Ontario on November 20, will be the dominant strain by later this week, and will replace delta by Christmas.
Your luck with the portal may depend on how far you can travel to get the jab, or what time of day you are able to log in. When I checked around noon today, there was one clinic in Ottawa with six available slots for Sunday. In the couple of minutes it took me to pull up a map to see where it was and whether I could get there, they were all gone. However, if I expand the radius of the search, there are smaller towns or cities in driving distance (for those with vehicles, which is not me) with openings. But at least I know they are popping up even if they're going fast. I'll have to remember to check it first thing tomorrow morning, in case that is when they schedule appointments for new vaccine shipments.FishPants wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 9:42 pm Now with Ontario dropping the age to 18+ on Monday, we may have a small chance of getting it before Christmas.. Talked to our local pharmacy but they don't have any Moderna in stock (I'm not mixing anymore, just Moderna) - so I'll hit the provincial portal on Monday. Wonder what the odds are that the province figured out how to use AWS for the impending crush?
@Fishpants - I got mine down at the Gellert Ctr in Georgetown South. Try the Halton.ca site for scheduling - I got mine within 1 week of registering.FishPants wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 9:42 pmValid, but the world was already boosting because the evidence was there of antibodies waning, and we stuck with the status quo - age gating, and navel gazing. I find it frustrating (I can't even buy a fucking rapid test at the pharmacy, I need to hand $40 over to the Weston family to do it for me if I want one.).Max Peck wrote: Tue Dec 14, 2021 12:02 am
A month ago the Omicron variant didn't exist (that anyone knew of), and the science community was divided over whether boosters would actually be useful yet. If we were still only dealing with Delta, boosters wouldn't be needed as urgently.
I wish that was the case, we have tons of supply - the government has been age gating vaccine boosters to 70+ then 50+ because who the fuck knows why. Literally the doses in the freezer, but here we are parcelling them out for some unknown reason. At least the 50+ crowd was showing up for the shots.Smoove_B wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2021 10:11 pm I can't speak to all of Canada, but I did just see this regarding Ontario and it might explain why it's difficult to get a booster (or get tested):
https://twitter.com/DFisman/status/1470440656992677892
Comments accurate note that it wasn't *detected* before 11/20, but it's accelerating fast.Amazingly, omicron, which wasn't present in Ontario on November 20, will be the dominant strain by later this week, and will replace delta by Christmas.
Now with Ontario dropping the age to 18+ on Monday, we may have a small chance of getting it before Christmas.. Talked to our local pharmacy but they don't have any Moderna in stock (I'm not mixing anymore, just Moderna) - so I'll hit the provincial portal on Monday. Wonder what the odds are that the province figured out how to use AWS for the impending crush?
Vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted 15-0 Thursday to change recommendations for Covid-19 vaccines to make clear that shots made by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are preferred over Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.
The new recommendation: "mRNA vaccines are preferred over the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19 for those 18 years of age and over."
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices endorsed the updated recommendation after hearing new data indicating that a rare blood clotting syndrome is more common among people who recently got a J&J vaccine than previously believed. The CDC has logged 54 cases in the US of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome or TTS in the US since the vaccine became available. Nine people have died -- seven women and two men.
I was just wondering the same thing this morning when the talking heads were discussing the 6 month second booster or annual winter booster as a high probability.hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:54 am the medical center administering my second dose hogged up two rows on my vaccination record card, and now i have had the third, so my vax card is full. what happens when fourth (or fifth) dose rolls around - do they start logging them on the back side?
For my first dose they put the lot sticker on the back. So for my second, they put the lot sticker on the front and covered up the lines for dose 2 and "other". For my booster they stuck the lot on the back and wrote "#3" on the sticker.hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:54 am the medical center administering my second dose hogged up two rows on my vaccination record card, and now i have had the third, so my vax card is full. what happens when fourth (or fifth) dose rolls around - do they start logging them on the back side?
Your vaccine record doesn't get imported into your smart phone? The government emails me a QR code for the vaccine, which I scan into apple health and it adds it to my wallet. Makes life easier.hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:54 am the medical center administering my second dose hogged up two rows on my vaccination record card, and now i have had the third, so my vax card is full. what happens when fourth (or fifth) dose rolls around - do they start logging them on the back side?
That's great news! I've just shared that with a few people from my town too. Fingers crossed they can get the same service.FishPants wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:56 amYour vaccine record doesn't get imported into your smart phone? The government emails me a QR code for the vaccine, which I scan into apple health and it adds it to my wallet. Makes life easier.hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:54 am the medical center administering my second dose hogged up two rows on my vaccination record card, and now i have had the third, so my vax card is full. what happens when fourth (or fifth) dose rolls around - do they start logging them on the back side?
Also got my moderna booster this morning, the government allowed pharmacies to do walk ins of 18+ today before the government booking system allows appointments on Monday. Was driving past a TINY pharmacy in another town and my wife decided to call and ask.. he said "if you can be here in five minutes, I'll get you both done". So that's that (and his phone was constantly ringing while we were there -- very fortunate he picked up at all). Arm hurts like hell already, his technique was more "jab it and gtfo", I respect that when we are a last minute add (he wasn't even aware he was allowed to do it until he checked the Ministry website and his email).
Gratz!FishPants wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:56 amYour vaccine record doesn't get imported into your smart phone? The government emails me a QR code for the vaccine, which I scan into apple health and it adds it to my wallet. Makes life easier.hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:54 am the medical center administering my second dose hogged up two rows on my vaccination record card, and now i have had the third, so my vax card is full. what happens when fourth (or fifth) dose rolls around - do they start logging them on the back side?
Also got my moderna booster this morning, the government allowed pharmacies to do walk ins of 18+ today before the government booking system allows appointments on Monday. Was driving past a TINY pharmacy in another town and my wife decided to call and ask.. he said "if you can be here in five minutes, I'll get you both done". So that's that (and his phone was constantly ringing while we were there -- very fortunate he picked up at all). Arm hurts like hell already, his technique was more "jab it and gtfo", I respect that when we are a last minute add (he wasn't even aware he was allowed to do it until he checked the Ministry website and his email).
BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today shared that following a routine review by the external independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), the companies will amend the clinical study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in children 6 months to under 5 years of age. The study will now include evaluating a third dose of 3 µg at least two months after the second dose of the two-dose series to provide high levels of protection in this young age group.
While the study is ongoing and remains blinded, a pre-specified immunogenicity analysis was conducted on a subset of the study population one month following the second dose. Compared to the 16- to 25-year-old population in which high efficacy was demonstrated, non-inferiority was met for the 6- to 24-month-old population but not for the 2- to under 5-year-old population in this analysis. No safety concerns were identified and the 3 µg dose demonstrated a favorable safety profile in children 6 months to under 5 years of age.
Which is another point of *hot* debate right now. Public health (across the spectrum) is pushing for the CDC to change the definition of "fully vaccinated" to mean 3 shots (Pfizer or Moderna). Not sure what the current idea is on J&J but the point is they want fully vaccinated to mean 3. This idea, of course, is causing all kinds of problems because of whatever policies and guidelines people are using to guide practice.Defiant wrote: Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:09 pm It would be nice to know what the actual number is of fully vaccinated people.
Jaymon wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 5:27 pm booster for my family today, thats my third shot. The Mrs originally had J&J, so its her second, and 12 just turned 12, so its his first shot. All were pfizer.
Here in Canada, Ontario has just dropped the interval between the 2nd and 3rd shots to 3 months. I don't know if that applies across the board for the whole country yet, though. For the time being, though, it just increases the log jam at the vaccination clinics because it increases the number of people who all become eligible for a 3rd shot at the same time when current the capacity to actually put jabs in arms is already maxed out.Defiant wrote: Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:34 pm I wonder, between the push to consider it a three shot vaccine (rather than 2 shots and a booster), and the data on Omicron, if they'll consider shortening the time to get boosters like a few countries have (eg, 3 months in the UK, Turkey and a few others).