Second Vaccine
Brian, Hadley and I went for our second dose of the vaccine. We did a lot of research, and decided that we wanted to get vaccinated at the 8 week point with both our first and second doses being Pfizer.
The main reasons for this... Pfizer is the only MRNA vaccine for 12-17 year olds approved in Canada, MRNA has higher efficacy and is the new way of making vaccines. Two doses of Pfizer are accepted around the world as fully vaccinated, so future travel will be easier and while the mix and match of Astra Zeneca (old way of making vaccines and lower efficacy), or Moderna (MRNA), or Pfizer (MRNA) seems to work in some form, it is NOT accepted worldwide as there is not enough research and data for mixing and matching.
Also, originally dosing intervals were 28 days proven by Pfizer, but with not enough supply, Canada was giving it out at 4 month intervals, so we waited and got our vaccine later than others to make sure we could have ours closer together when supply was better. After more studies, dosing intervals of 8 weeks seems to be the sweet spot for the body's immune system to produce more infection-fighting antibodies. Plus if Hadley goes to physical school in the fall, (we have to decide mid August, TBD), this will give her a few weeks for her body to work with the vaccine. So, that was our decision. With some determination to book the appointments we got them exactly 8 weeks to the day.
All three of us felt just the jab spot for the first dose for 24 hours. No other side effects. Second dose, Both Brian and I felt the front of our head a little off, and tired but totally manageable and of course the jab spot for 24 hours. Hadley however, got a fever 12 hours after the jab, and it lasted for about 18 hours. Otherwise, all good.
I have joined a medical study for the good of humanity. I will take my blood at different select intervals throughout the year to show how the vaccine affected me. I will get my own results at the end and there will be more understanding of the vaccines for the future. It started the day before my second dose.
New information comes out everyday, I will note a few things from this week:
Canada is 59% fully vaccinated. However, in Ontario, since things opened up on July 16th, we are almost back to the number of active cases that we had in June despite over 9 million Ontarians being fully vaccinated.
A fourth wave is definitely expected in the fall.
The observed deficit for COVID-19 patients who had been put on a ventilator equates to a 7-point drop in IQ. UGH!
This week, a CDC study found vaccinated individuals had a similar amount of virus presence as the unvaccinated, suggesting that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant could transmit the virus. Again... ugh! Also, the Delta variant apparently spreads like chicken pox did when we were kids. Super fast and super easy!
In good news...The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are going on right now with no fans, so that gives us something to do at home as we watch and cheer. Hadley seems to really love the swimming events which is really fun as Penny Oleksiak is now the first Canadian to achieve 7 medals! Canada's most decorated medalist! Easton seems to just love staying up late to watch... whatever.