Multiple media outlets have been reporting that the World Health Organization is opposed to the mixing of COVID-19 vaccines, but Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang says that isn’t the case.
He says all of the panic stems from comments made by WHO Dr. Soumya Swaminathan that were taken out of context, “Reports says that her claim was the WHO does not recommend mixing of doses, but if you listen to the full clip you hear that she was responding to a question about booster shots and potential third or fourth doses,” Dr. Strang said.
Dr. Swminathan went on to say that individuals should not be making uninformed decisions about whether or not to mix doses but instead they should listen to the advice offered by local health authorities.
Dr. Strang reiterated that the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s position is that the best second dose to take for healthy adults is the first one to become available to them.
Later in the briefing, Dr. Strang indicated that Nova Scotia may be able to enter Phase Five of reopening by late August as 75 per cent of the eligible population now has at least one shot.
In recent days the amount of people signing up for second doses has increased, which is a key part of what will enable the province to enter Phase Five with Dr. Strang saying “the needle has moved slightly but we still have appointments going unbooked,”.
No new cases were announced today in Nova Scotia and with two new recoveries there are now 28 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia.
