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More bypassing AstraZeneca for 2nd COVID-19 shot after NACI advice

From 6,000 to 3,600 – Adrian Dix says fewer people are choosing AstraZeneca for second dose
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B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. (Black Press Media files)

Fewer British Columbians are choosing Oxford-AstraZeneca for their second COVID-19 shot.

After NACI switched gears to recommend an mRNA vaccine as its “preferred” second dose choice Thursday, a smaller margin, 3,600 adults a day, have chosen AstraZeneca for their second dose.

This represents a 40 per cent drop, Health Minister Adrian Dix said Tuesday.

Previously, upwards of 6,128 a day had chosen to get vaccinated again with AstraZeneca when NACI’s advised recipients they could choose to get an mRNA vaccine for their second dose on June 1.

READ ALSO: B.C. reaches 1 million people fully vaccinated, 56 new cases Tuesday

Dix assured the public that the province has no future plans to turn away AstraZeneca shipments.

In fact, B.C. is set to receive 10,000 additional doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine this week, said Dix. They will be available for immunizations at pharmacies across the province.

“To have the summer that we want, vaccination is key,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. “When we are immunized we protect each other and we protect ourselves.”

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