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Thought of the Day - April 21 2021 - First-Shot Day for Me

Updated: Aug 6, 2021

Welp, today is the day for me. Got my first AstraZeneca shot.


Due to all the bad press, Canada has a surplus of AstraZeneca vaccines, and thus if you are between the ages of 55 and 65 you get to jump the "age queue". That said, I hear BC is now 'peddling it' to the over 40s in 'high-hit' areas so I am guessing the 'surplus' will be dealt with in short order.


While there is still discussion concerning the level of vaccination required to achieve herd immunity, and it is thought that the "efficacy" of vaccines is reduced with the "variants of concern", there is no question that vaccines will significantly decrease the severity of COVID-19.


But what about the much-publicized risk of blood clots with AstraZeneca?


The blood clot risk was expected:

  1. The risk of blood clots stemming from traditional adenovirus vaccines has been known about for years (Queens University published a paper on the subject back in 2006). Thus, it is unsurprising that blood clots have been reported around the world for both AstraZeneca/Oxford and J&J/Janssen.

  2. New data indicates the mRNA vaccines also cause blood clots - however, for some reason they are of a somewhat less deadly variety.

  3. Oral contraceptives also cause blood clots. So, women on the "pill" are at higher risk and should think twice before taking these vaccines.

Incorrect injection increases the risk:

  1. Injection of adenovirus vaccines in veins or arteries will cause blood clots.

  2. Unlike countries such as Denmark, Canada has not yet implemented measures to ensure that, while rare, this cannot happen.

  3. Make sure that your "administrator" does an aspiration ( Thought of the Day - March 25 2021 - Are We Doing Vaccinations Wrong? ) - they all know about this "out of date technique".

COVID causes blood clots:

  1. Final thought, getting severe COVID you are ten times more likely to develop blood clots than with any of the vaccines, so you are 'damned if you don't' as well.


And of course, while it will take Canada six months to figure out how to issues these ( Thought of the Day - March 18 - Immunity Passports ), there is an additional reason to be vaccinated in a timely manner.



Cheers

Cliff

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