The Ontario government is recommending people aged 18-24 take the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine instead of Moderna’s. This comes due to an increase in cases of rare heart conditions in young adults.
The Ontario government said the rise of myocarditis and pericarditishas been observed, particularly in the age group and among males.
Health officials say between June and August, the risk of the heart conditions in males in that age groups after two doses of Moderna was 1 in 5,000, but for those who received the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine it was 1 in 28,000.
Ontario’s chief medical officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, said the recommendation is being made out of an abundance of caution.
"I know that this news might make some people nervous and heighten concerns about receiving COVID vaccine, and I can understand that," Kieran said. "But the benefits of vaccination continue to significantly outweigh the risks of COVID-19 illness and related possibly severe consequences."
Meanwhile, new modeling released this week shows the Delta-driven fourth wave of the pandemic is flattening in Ontario. Ontario’s Science Advisory Table still warned there is no wiggle room, adding that there could be an exponential increase in cases if restrictions are lifted prematurely.
The projections suggested a rolling seven-day overage of new cases is on track to hit about 1,000 a day in October, rising to about 1,500 by the beginning of November. Researchers also saidit’s too soon to see the impact of increased contacts with the return to school and workplaces.