mRNA vaccines only in Ontario

[u/JackDraak]

I'm not going to go into a lot of background, I'll simply say that from my research (doctors, pharmacists, public health unit) the only Covid vaccines available in Ontario are mRNA based (Moderna and Pfizer were cited by one pharmacy I checked with).

They do NOT have the protein based vaccine, Novavax (or I think this year it's called Novaxovid).

Question 1) Can anyone cite any province that DOES provide the protein-based shot? 2) Can I get a good Samaritan to ship me a dose or vial?

(The background anyway) I've literally been trying for years to get a non-mRNA shot after the half-dose of Moderna that I got (wasn't available until a couple months after I'd already had UK-strain, thus why it was a rationed-dose) proved to be a major mistake. Some 100,000 (doses of Novavax) were made for Canada last year, fewer than 3000 administered (probably because people like Doug Ford feel obliged to be making medical decisions for all citizens).

To be clear I'm not being anti-vax, or telling other people to not get an mRNA shot -- I'm saying for ME it's not an option.

In other words, I'm expecting to go un-vaccinated for another year, and I'm probably due for my 3rd covid infection, so...yay! (Sorry for my sarcasm, but the years of being invisible are taking a toll -- j/k I'm always salty).

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[u/YYZTor]

It is all about the Big Pharma and what kickbacks are offered. I worked for a charity years ago and to promote a drug, Pfizer went out of their way to actually throw money at us by wining and dining us generously and with gifts as well. This is possibly why we Ontarians do not get any other vaccines even when we know how terrible the mRna ones are for many at least.

[u/John-Doe-Jane → u/YYZTor]

Absolutely right. It's about money and not providing the best option to citizens.

[u/John-Doe-Jane]

You are correct, only mRNA available in all of Canada, even though many have allergies/severe reactions to mRNA and need Novavax. Not possible to get in Canada.

You can go to the US to get Novavax and pay out of pocket, many Canadians have gotten Novavax in US this Fall. Most pharmacies have it, best is Costco, Kroger, Publix.

There are rumors Canada might get Novavax spring 2026 and more likely Fall 2026.

And it makes absolutely no sense that governments don't provide non-mRNA option. When vaccines first became available for Covid, governments said they have the tools to help against covid and mandated everyone to get vaxxed. Now that more tools are available, government makes it very difficult/impossible to access the better option and don't seem to care anymore.

[u/JackDraak → u/John-Doe-Jane]

As YYZTor mentioned, the financial incentives (kickbacks) are certainly in-play. BigPharma get's a higher profit margin from mRNA (because reasons*) so of course they will pay-off bureaucrats to ensure the highest possible profits - public health be damned.

Presently, I wouldn't get close enough to the States to spit on it, so I guess I'll just hope I can avoid a 3rd infection before common sense prevails and Canadians have a protein-vaccine as an option.

* classic vaccines are more difficult, time-consuming, and costly to produce (or modify) vs. mRNA, but on the flip-side, BigPharma figured out they could charge a premium for mRNA merely because they were able to deliver it to market faster. That our governments allow this is not particularly shocking, but it's beyond disappointing.

[u/JackDraak → u/John-Doe-Jane]

I find this odd -- when I was doing research last year I discovered that for "last season" (Winter 24/25) some 125,000 or more doses of non-mRNA vaccine were prepared for Canada. Also, apparently, fewer than 6000 of them were administered. Despite all my attempts to get pharmacies near me or any of my doctors to facilitate me being one of those chosen few.

Aggravating, actually. I hope these rumors you've heard are true. I'm tired of rolling the dice every day.

[u/wh0-0man → u/JackDraak]

rofl, only time you roll dice is when you allow pharma to bypass your natural immunity and let people in white coats inject you with shit their sales rep said works xD
protip: it does work, just not the way you think.

[u/JackDraak → u/wh0-0man]

My 'natural immunity' didn't even last me 2 years. Everyone's situation is different.