'This entitlement is beyond me': Canada hits COVID-19 vaccine milestone, but people are still 'shopping' between Pfizer and Moderna
Canada has hit its 50 per cent COVID-19 vaccine milestone for first doses, but the federal government is still waiting on a confirmed delivery schedule from Moderna as we head into June and July.
"The point that I have repeatedly stressed to Moderna is the urgent need for a delivery schedule relating to June and July deliveries," Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement said at a press conference on Tuesday.
"Rest assured, we will be receiving millions of doses from Moderna during the month of June."
Anand added that the next shipment from Moderna is expected to arrive in the first part of June, while the concrete delivery schedule has not been confirmed on the manufacturer's end.
"We are in very serious and active discussions with Moderna right now about the deliveries to come," she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Pfizer has been the "reliable workhorse" of Canada's vaccinations, but stressed that in the early months, Moderna was able to deliver several doses that were administered in Arctic and remote communities.
"We are very fortunate as a country to have had so many different deals with so many different companies to allow for the position we're in right now where more than half of Canadians have had at least one dose of a vaccine," Trudeau said. "That is what is going to get us through this."
"We remain absolutely confident that we will have more than enough doses in Canada by the end of June to give a first dose to every Canadian who wants one, and second doses will continue to ramp up through June and into the summer."
Canadians 'vaccine shopping' between Pfizer and Moderna
Moderna is now saying that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for youth between the ages of 12 and 17, based on its U.S. TeenCOVE study.
This also comes after several medical professionals and Canadians were calling out individuals who are "vaccine shopping" between Pfizer and Moderna shots.
"Moderna and Pfizer are like Mercedes and BMW. You don't turn down a Mercedes. You don't turn down a BMW," Dr. Hemant Shah, a physician with University Health Network told CBC News.
There's something about North America that makes people feel so entitled. I can't fathom how someone would wake up, go to a clinic and reject the Moderna vaccine offered, all because it's not Pfizer. This type of entitlement is beyond me.
— Birgit Umaigba RN, BScN, MEd, CCRN 🇳🇬 🇨🇦 (@birgitomo) May 23, 2021
Dear Canadians
If you are turning down Moderna (to get Pfizer vaccine instead), kindly know that 90% of the world's population is yet to get ANY vaccination. Some countries might not get any until 2023.
Let's please appreciate what we have.https://t.co/jphvnOD51v— Madhu Pai, MD, PhD (@paimadhu) May 24, 2021
Today (!) I received my COVID-19 vaccine and I am grateful to be on #TeamModerna. Don’t vaccine shop - I am so lucky to have been offered this safe and effective vaccine here in Canada. ❤️ https://t.co/IzNS9egXp2
— Laura Crochetiere (@lauraannc) May 23, 2021
Proud member of the Moderna Mafia here. 💉💕This is silly and dangerous and it slows our progress to getting back together as a community.
"Moderna and Pfizer are like Mercedes and BMW. You don't turn down a Mercedes. You don't turn down a BMW."https://t.co/9ru7p6zsL6— Christy loves N95😷 and 💉 in spring 🌷 (@ChristyCeeCK) May 23, 2021
2 of us got AZ. 2 got Pfizer. 1 got Moderna. 1 more under 18 will get Pfizer because it’s the only one approved for under 18 we all got whichever vaccine was available to get the fastest appointment! I don’t understand this brand shopping.
— Tara H (@eet_cake) May 24, 2021
