Canada’s Quebec government has announced that fully vaccinated residents who have received the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can receive a third dose of an mRNA vaccine before travelling, but recipients are on their own for weighing the risks of doing so, according to a report in Canada’s Travel Industry Today.
This is in stark contrast to Australia, which is struggling to have sufficient vaccinations for even a first jab, demonstrating our Federal Government’s “strollout” ineptitude.
The report says that extra shots are being offered because some countries don’t recognize the version of the vaccine made at the Serum Institute of India, and Canadians who have received it could find themselves barred from entry.
Robert Maranda, a spokesman for the Quebec Health Department, said a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines doesn’t necessarily provide more protection compared with two doses, adding that the safety of receiving two shots of AstraZeneca mixed with an mRNA vaccine is unclear.
He adds that there are no studies that assess the impact of receiving three doses of two separate vaccines, saying, “The person should be properly counselled to be informed of the potential risks associated with this added dose compared to the benefits of the planned trip,” Maranda said, adding, “It is up to everyone to weigh the balance of risks and benefits.”
In further contrast to Australia’s dire vaccination numbers, Quebec’s public health institute says 83.5% of residents aged 12 and up have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 62.55% are considered adequately vaccinated.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Special Correspondent, Travel and Tourism Global Travel Media
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