Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: AstraZeneca – to jab or not to jab, that is the question

Mar 31, 2021 | 4:35 AM

MY SHOT AT THE VACCINE is coming up pretty soon and, frankly, I’m concerned.

It’s about this little problem with AstraZeneca. People have died after getting it. Not a lot of people, but some. The current wisdom is that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh any risks.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends it not be used on people under the age of 55.

In Europe, three dozen patients developed blood clots after receiving the vaccine. A very few didn’t survive. In actual numbers, it’s 18 people. Or maybe nine, depending on the source.

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A definite link between AstraZeneca and those cases hasn’t been made. So, they say, don’t worry. Well, I do worry about what goes into this temple, the one with pre-existing medical conditions.

My feeling is, NACI, when you know for sure, please get back to me. You said a month ago the vaccine shouldn’t be used for those over the age of 65, only to change your mind a couple of weeks later.

The age cutoff for AstraZeneca varies from country to country. Science, it seems, is open to interpretation.

Eighteen people out of millions isn’t much, unless you’re one of the 18. So, if you don’t mind, I’d rather have one of the other ones.

Here’s my problem. Interior Health won’t say which vaccine I’ll get when it’s my turn. “Whatever we happen to have on that day,” was the answer I got when I asked.

That makes sense. The vaccine rollout is such a crap shoot that we never know what’s going to be available. But I don’t like the “take what we give you” approach to health care.

If they bring out a vial of AstraZeneca when I walk into the clinic I suppose I’ll probably roll up my sleeve because I don’t want to have to wait several more weeks or months.

But I’d sure like to have something else available on the menu.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.