Vaccination Messaging in Chaos: Experts' Advice Causes Confusion

Strategic Insights -

Public health officials in Canada were left struggling to reassure the public about vaccination risks after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) suggested that people at low risk of catching COVID-19 might want to pass on the AstraZeneca vaccine and wait for the "preferred" Pfizer or Moderna jabs. This move muddled the message that the government has been trying to get out, which is that the best vaccine to take is the first one you can get.

Key Takeaways:

  • NACI chair Caroline Quach-Thanh stated that individuals might want to wait if they are in a low-risk area or have low exposure, but this advice was not clearly communicated.
  • The risk of serious blood clots from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines is estimated to be about one in 100,000, which is many times less than the risk of getting blood clots from birth control pills.
  • Science tells us that people are bad at judging probabilities and risks, making it difficult for public health officials to provide clear guidance.
  • Public health officials, including Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam, were unable to provide clear advice on whether individuals should take the AstraZeneca vaccine or wait for a different vaccine.
  • The government's message is that the vaccine you are offered will be safe, but the conflicting advice from experts has created confusion and undermined this message.
  • The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was unable to muzzle the scientists and experts, and was left trying to clean up the mess by reasserting that all vaccines have been approved by Health Canada.

Statistics:

  • The risk of serious blood clots from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines is estimated to be about 1 in 100,000 (Source: NACI)
  • The risk of getting blood clots from birth control pills is many times more common than the risk from AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson vaccines (Source: NACI)
  • The number of people who have died from side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine is not publicly disclosed in the article.

Sources:

  • National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
  • The Globe and Mail
  • Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
  • Health Canada