‘They’re angry and I don’t blame them’

Ontarians are cancelling Astrazeneca doses following new guidance, vaccines may be wasted

Ontarians who got a first shot of Oxford-astrazeneca were cancelling appointments for second doses of that vaccine following new guidance from a national advisory group, pharmacists dealing with scrapped bookings said Friday.

The Ontario Pharmacists Association said the situation had many of its members worried their remaining stock of Astrazeneca could end up going to waste.

“If people move away from Astrazeneca, it’s going to sit in the fridges because nobody wants it. There’s nothing we can do with it and I think that’s a shame,” association CEO Justin Bates said in an interview.

The cancellations flooded in after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization changed its recommendation on Thursday for people who got Astrazeneca as a first shot. The new guidance said it was better if they got the Pfizer-biontech or Moderna MRNA vaccines as a second dose.

The guidance was updated because of evidence of a stronger immune response with that mix of doses and a lower risk of rare but serious blood clots.

Ontario said it currently has approximately 160,000 doses of Astrazeneca available, with shots offered through pharmacies and some primary care settings.

Bates said pharmacies will continue to offer Astrazeneca to customers who want it, though he noted that many clients were expressing frustration over the new guidance.

“People are confused,” he said. “They’re angry and I don’t blame them for being angry.”

NACI’S new advice did not change the Ontario government’s position on Astrazeneca, with the province saying Friday that those who got a first shot of it could decide whether to get the same vaccine or a different MRNA shot as a second dose.

“If you had Astrazeneca for your first dose, you can safely take either Astrazeneca, Moderna or Pfizer for your second dose for strong protection,” Alexandra Hilkene, a spokesperson for Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement.