Under the terms of the provincial vaccination approach, as a young 20-something, it would be a while yet before I got my COVID vaccine.
Except, thanks to some handy volunteering I've been doing as part of the pandemic response, I qualified a few weeks ago, because this volunteer gig takes place at a congregate living facility, and they're now vaccinating individuals working in such a setting, regardless of whether or not they have patient contact.
So, this past Thursday afternoon, I left work, ventured to the supercentre, and within an hour of getting out of my car I was on my way home, with my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine injected into my left arm.
I'm glad I got it. And though second doses are being delayed, something is better than nothing. Although initial studies suggest that there's anywhere from 30-90% efficacy with one dose, upon further analysis, these numbers come from different types of studies. One suggests a 30% reduction in chance of contracting COVID-19 with one dose. Another suggests a 52% chance of not showing symptoms if the virus is contracted after dose 1. Studies initially looked at anybody who contracted COVID after the first dose, which contributed to a low efficacy rate. However, focusing in on results 14-21 days after shot 1, there's more like 80-90% efficacy given than any symptoms presented before day 14 could be due to infection contracted prior to the shot being delivered, but not yet presenting in the form of sickness.
Whatever the reality, I'm glad for some protection, especially given the fact that my next practicum will be starting up this upcoming week, I'm still working in-person due to the nature of working in a lab, and the fact that I am volunteering in-person still.
I'm glad this rollout it working. It's been an impressive effort to get these vaccines developed, tested, and into arms. With any luck, this vaccination effort will beat the third wave taking grip in certain areas, and that before you know it, shot number two will be handed out.
And then, with that, we can start putting this all behind us.
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