Manitoba recommends that those aged 12 to 29 get Pfizer COVID vaccine
The medical lead of Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force said the province is recommending that individuals aged 12 to 29 get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Joss Reimer announced the recommendation at a news conference on Wednesday, saying it comes after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated its recommendations for mRNA vaccines for young people.
“NACI continues to recommend that a complete series with an mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna, is preferable over receiving a viral vector vaccine, such as AstraZeneca or Janssen,” she said.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in a setting of robust supply, we are now recommending that whenever possible, young people aged 12 to 29 get Pfizer for their first and second doses and probably even for their booster doses.”
She said this is because the risk of myocarditis, which is a rare and temporary swelling of heart tissues, appears to be even lower with Pfizer than it is with Moderna.
Reimer added that Moderna is still a safe and effective option, and young people can still get it if only Moderna is available to them or if they are more comfortable with Moderna.
“I want to be very clear that we are not saying Pfizer is better than Moderna,” she said.
“In fact, in some ways, newer evidence is showing that Moderna may have some benefits over Pfizer in long-term protection.”
Reimer emphasized that the risk of myocarditis is “much higher” from a COVID-19 infection than it is from a COVID-19 vaccine.
“The severity of myocarditis related to infection is much greater than related to those that happen after the vaccine,” she said.
Reimer said the risk of myocarditis after vaccination is low, but the province wants it to be as low as possible.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.