Anyway, I got AZ and still feel good about it. I think. Is it me saying this, or Bill Gates through the microchip?

@balkissoon First of all, "the inferior" is your characterization, but "the inferior" comprises two-thirds of the vaccinations in the UK, where it has helped stop the pandemic in its tracks, including the so-called UK variant.

@accfanto It's not my characterization. It's the NACI's characterization here. I took AZ. I'm not doubting it. I'm criticizing this extremely unclear and insensitive messaging.

@balkissoon Sure, but can we stop perpetuating the idea that any of the major vaccines are 'inferior'? All of them are highly effective.

@balkissoon In what way is an approved covid vaccine inferior to another?

@balkissoon exactly. this is incredibly cruel and an insult to essential workers. why not let essential workers have priority for Pfizer or Moderna ? let those who can wait...wait.

@balkissoon The messaging is awful. I’ll still get my AZ poke this week, though.

@balkissoon It never occurred to me to think of essential workers as racialized. But maybe that's my privilege showing. I'm formerly a white essential employee. Now I "maintain critical infrastructure" and I guess my essentialness has increased. Still a dumpy white dude tho...

@balkissoon Exactly. Calling AZ “inferior” (hugely contentious characterization) and THEN saying “but it’s good enough for the essential workers” is really really messed up policy comms. There has been such a huge injury to trust here. At so many levels. Just atrocious.

@balkissoon COVID is inequitable. And frankly, so has a lot of our response. No need for NACI to help create further division, confusion, worries and "shopping" by rating the vaccines. This just means that essential workers who wait are screwed and those who don't wait will feel screwed.

@balkissoon Weird take. Anyway, starting this month, basically nobody is going to get an virus vector vaccine since they're being held up in a study (JJ) or can't commit (AZ). I'd like my AZ dose II sometime...

@balkissoon Exactly what I was wondering. Such a strange recommendation. Shouldn't essential workers be getting the "good" vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) and us non-essentials be getting the "bad" A-Z?

@balkissoon People making important recommendations lack the courage to say that 1 in 100K of you will be seriously harmed, but we ask you in the name of your fellow citizens to do so anyway because the virus is still the greater risk. It starts with cowardice and stumbles into inequity.

@balkissoon So.much.this So angry about this idiotic messaging and contribution to vaccine hesitancy, injustice & vaccine shopping.

@balkissoon I’m confused. All the hot spot 18+ vaccination clinics are giving out Pfizer. Arguably those hot spot areas are many front line and essential workers. So far most of the AstraZeneca has been given out at pharmacies for anyone over 40+ many of which are in none hotspot areas.

@balkissoon This is the real truth - and always was

@balkissoon This is a clear misreading of what they're saying. Perhaps deliberately so.

@balkissoon I hear your point for sure on abuse of and disregard for racialised essential workers. But is AZ inferior? Isn't that just the big pharma line?

@balkissoon No, that is not what anyone is saying. They are saying you are better off taking any of the vaccines. You're not stuck with anything. If you want to wait, then wait.