Residents continue to get the Moderna bivalent shot, but some waiting for Pfizer
The Moderna bivalent booster has been available to adults since Sept. 26, but it seems like the rush to get vaccinated might be over. Some might just be waiting for Pfizer’s new shot.
Liz Davies is about to get her fifth COVID shot. She says the pandemic is far from over and thinks being vaccinated is still very important.
“I’m hoping for the most recent one, the Pfizer one. But I’ll take whatever they give me,” says Davies. “You can’t assume just because it’s over that it’s really over. So I’m just looking to protect myself and my family the best way I can.”
Davies will get the Moderna bivalent shot, but Dennis Riopelle wants to keep all his vaccines with the same manufacturer, Pfizer.
“I’m looking for the Pfizer 4-5. And so if they don’t have it, then I’m not going to stay,” says Riopelle. “They approved it last week and I wanted to find out if they’ve received it. If they have not received it, then I’m just going to wait for it.”
Barb Grisdale is getting her fifth dose as well. All her previous shots were also Pfizer, but she says she doesn’t want to wait for those doses to show up at clinics.
“I’ve had Pfizer all along,” says Grisdale. “And I know it’s been approved but obviously it’s not delivered yet I guess. So I’ll give Moderna a crack.”
For some, it seems like being vaccinated isn’t a priority like it used to be.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch says it is partly because of a communication issue from public health.
“If we really want to see good uptake, especially among those who need it the most, those over the age of 60 and those with underlying medical conditions, you really have to take those communication steps, community engagement steps, and lowering barrier steps to get people vaccinated,” says Bogoch.
According to Ottawa Public Health, as of Tuesday, 30,634 Moderna Spikevax Bivalent vaccines have been administered in Ottawa; 28,776 of those are fourth doses.
“I’m getting my fifth COVID shot and I’m happy to hear it’s the bivalent,” says Stella Val. “So hopefully it will deal with the Omicron virus.”
“I think it’s the best protection for myself and everyone I care about,” says Blue Morgan. “And people I don’t even know.”
Riopelle was offered a Moderna shot. He decided not to get it and will come back for Pfizer.
“I’m ready to wait,” says Riopelle. “I think that’s what a lot of people will do as well. Because I want to stick specifically to Pfizer which I have not had any issues with. Not even a sore arm. So I’m sticking with it.”
Liz Davies on the other hand, happy she’s walking away today with a little more protection.
“I had a charming fellow who gave me the shot,” says Davies. “He was so good at distracting me I didn’t even feel it go in.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Macklem tries to stay out of the fray as MPs do their best to use him to score points
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem navigates a political minefield every time he testifies before the House of Commons finance committee.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.