I’m not throwing away my shot

I don’t want to throw away my shot, but my first dose may be wasted if the age-based roll-out strategy isn't revisited for second doses.

I’m here to share a different kind of story today. To continue the tale of my most recent saga… my plight to get fully and properly vaccinated.

I’ve been emailing with the provincial chief medical officer of health for Nova Scotia. The top brass. He (or someone from his team at least) takes time to respond directly to emails, of which he must have so many. It’s not an auto-reply either. Every time I watch a press briefing, I think of how tired he and the premier must be. I don’t envy any one in the position of making decisions around anything to do with this pandemic. How overwhelming. For every decision made in the (apparent) best interest of anything, countless more are let down, left out, unhappy, or disgruntled. Politics is not my game. But. BUT.

I have my own biased, personal, strong and evidence-based opinion when it comes to the second dose vaccine roll out. You can read my op-ed “Vaccinate the Vulnerable Properly” for the Saltwire Network. You should read it, but here’s the gist of it -

A recently published study from the UK (the CLARITY IBD study) observed that people with IBD on immunosuppressive therapies had a much lower antibody response and may be less protected after one dose of the vaccine.

While a substantial number of people with IBD did not mount an adequate antibody response after the first dose, the majority of individuals with IBD mounted an adequate antibody response after receiving their second vaccine dose regardless of their medications….

…There’s been advocacy for such change on a national level. The COVID-19 and Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) Task Force is led by gastroenterologists, epidemiologists, infectious disease and IBD experts, patient representatives, and community leaders.

The COVID-19 and IBD Task Force calls on the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to include IBD patients on immunosuppression therapies on the list of exceptions for extended dosing intervals.

I shared all this information in my first email, which was met with "we are looking at this information as we develop our 2nd vaccine dose plan." But then they proceeded to role out second doses with age-based protocol.

I wrote again. Because In the next press conference Strang stated there is good support that the 105-day interval between vaccines is creating an even better immune response. Of course this does not apply to everyone. Other provinces have implemented change. So can Nova Scotia. We need to let the ones who need a more timely second dose go first.

I was left not knowing if I should postpone my scheduled vaccine appointment in hopes the protocol changes, or rebook for when/if I have a chance at getting the second dose — and the proper antibody response — in a timely interval. Likely in September.

At the advice of my specialist, I proceeded with the first dose in hopes of any antibodies at all. I still don’t know if it was the right decision. Maybe I should have waited until I could schedule the vaccines closely together and be confident about my vaccination.

This time, my email was met with confirmation of the second dose roll-out with age as the primary risk factor . So very frustrating.

There will be no consideration for actual medical recommendations to have an effective vaccine for those who should have a second dose sooner.

Once the oldest demographics and healthcare workers have had a chance at a second vaccine, why can't Public Health then move to prioritize the immunosuppressed for second doses — as several other provinces have — especially after stating the 105-day interval is proving to bring even better immunity (for those not compromised)?

Inviting Nova Scotians to move their second dose appointments by 2-4 weeks is not helpful to those that require a timely second dose. For me, a timely second dose will be on June 16. That’s next week At this rate my second dose will, at best, be between August 11-25. That's 8-10 weeks too late and I will have lost the opportunity to mount the adequate antibodies, as evidence shows.

Thanking Nova Scotians for continuing to follow the appropriate public health protocols as we build our provincial immunity levels is nice, but I think a more appropriate protocol would be to allow the many who are compromised a proper chance to build their immunity levels by allowing them timely access to their second dose along with continuing the age-based roll out.

Strang says the age-based strategy for vaccine roll-out “has allowed us to be highly efficient with vaccination and ahead of our expected schedule.” So that trumps ensuring the vulnerable are vaccinated properly?

As long as the vaccines are going into arms, I don’t understand how it doesn’t make sense to prioritize a vulnerable population. It’s for the greater good.

Have I mentioned Nova Scotia has the highest rates of IBD in the WORLD?

That’s over 10,000 people here living with IBD and many of those will be on immunosuppressive drugs. We’ll be the sitting ducks, unprotected, in what could be a completely avoidable situation.

I don’t want to rely solely on others to reach provincial immunity levels. I want to be part of the solution. I want the chance to be properly protected too. I should qualify for a timely second dose. It’s my best chance at immunity.

I’m not asking for special treatment. I have a chronic illness. I am immunocompromised. It’s not wrong for me to push this.

I shouldn’t even have to ask.

When I hold in my possession a letter from my specialist, a medical director, recommending that individuals with IBD receive their vaccine doses with a 21-day interval, a letter offered to me so that I may be considered for a prioritized second dose of the covid-19 vaccination, and there is nothing I can do with it… it’s frustrating. It’s disheartening. It’s no longer following the science.

It’s draining but i have to keep trying in my plight to get fully and properly vaccinated. I will be persistent. I wrote to Dr. Strang again. It’s my best shot—and hopefully not my only shot.

I’ve lived with Crohn’s disease for over 20 years and use immunosuppressive therapies to keep the disease under control. Myself and thousands of other Nova Scotians will benefit from timely access of the second dose of vaccine.

Heather Fegan is a freelance journalist, content creator, and blogger in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She loves exploring the great outdoors with her family and chronicling their adventures at home, afar, and everywhere in between. Because there’s always s story. Heather is also the founder and editor of INSPIRE ME Magazine.