Emily WilliamsAlthough science has advanced these last two years, it seems like we’re right back where we started in this pandemic.
Since the eligibility for a third dose of the vaccine opened up on December 21, there has been a growing demand for Albertans 18 and older to get the jab as soon as possible. But with growing demand, comes limited supplies of the Pfizer booster, especially since people ages 18 to 29 were primarily offered the Pfizer booster — instead of both Pfizer and Moderna as seen for the first two doses. Unless this shortage is solved before the University of Alberta decides on the fate of this semester, students will have no choice but to stay online.
According to an immunization update from December 22, the preference for Pfizer for ages 18 to 29 is due to the brand’s lower — although rare — risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in males compared to Moderna vaccines, and the limited risk information regarding Moderna boosters. However on January 3, Lisa Glover, assistant director for Alberta Health, encouraged Albertans to “take the first mRNA vaccine available to them, rather than waiting for a preferred brand” because of an abundance in Moderna boosters.
With these contradictory recommendations, many young people are likely waiting for more supply of Pfizer to get their booster. That being said, with the new Omicron variant, getting a third dose as soon as possible is key — especially to return to in-person learning safely.
Pfizer-BioNTech released a statement December 8 promoting the efficacy of a third dose against the wild type and its variants like Omicron. Pfizer’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla explains, “Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it’s clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine.”
Looking at the promising results of getting the Pfizer booster, I imagine it won’t be long until the U of A adds the booster shot as an addition to its current vaccination plan. The U of A’s current Vaccination Directive and implementation of the CampusReady pass took effect on October 4, 2021, four months after the eligibility for the first round of second doses started in Alberta.
If the university takes this province-wide Pfizer shortage into consideration, they might have to delay the implementation of the requirement until either later on in the semester at the earliest or by next Fall term at the latest. This should provide ample time for students to acquire their third dose, but the province’s current state does not give enough hope for students and staff to receive it before the university announces their new vaccination plan.
While we wait on a more stable supply of Pfizer boosters, there is a looming possibility of another round of online classes, much to many students’ dismay. This can be seen in the U of A’s decision to start the term online until at least January 23 and the province-wide extended winter break for students in kindergarten to Grade 12.
Online learning for more than a year has been hard on all of us, myself included, and the experiences we had this past Fall term have been a breath of fresh air. I know that I prefer having the opportunity for in-person hangouts with friends in between classes compared to the monotony of Zoom lectures and Discord groups.
Sadly, with the way reality is unfolding here in Alberta, the further rise of COVID-19 cases dictates the fate of how students will receive their education. There are still a lot of uncertainties surrounding the Omicron variant, including its symptoms or how it spreads throughout the population compared to the Delta variant.
The recent holiday season contributed to the highest single-day record so far of 6,257 new cases reported January 7, which may impact students with in-person components in their courses for the upcoming weeks. Additionally, cases detected by the more accessible rapid test kits are not accounted for in the reports we hear every day. This means there is even more risk than many probably realize in continuing in-person classes — especially with a population as big as the U of A’s.
The current Pfizer booster shortage threatens how this semester will unfold, especially with COVID-19 coming back with a vengeance. With cases surging and Albertans lacking the protection they need to combat it, it’s only going to be a matter of time before students will start chanting about penguins living in Antarctica.
