Why are people getting different vaccines? Can I choose which one I have?

At the moment, one of the hottest topics of conversation is vaccination, have you been vaccinated? Which vaccine did you have? How do you feel? After this, people want to know why people in their age group have had different vaccines, and can you choose which one you have?

The answer is in the national vaccination strategy document, but it is not straightforward. The stock of vaccines, the centre where you will be inoculated, and your age are some of the conditions that must be taken into account.

“The strategy makes it clear, the vaccines administered are according to availability at the time of vaccination. All vaccination centres have the vaccines authorized to proceed with the vaccination of the groups that are currently being vaccinated by age.

The vaccines are delivered to the islands on different days, so sometimes there is more supply of one than others which is why vaccinating continues with those available. The conservation and transport of vaccines also affects the distribution to the islands, ”explains Begoña Reyero, nurse and head of the Vaccination Campaign in the Canary Islands.

Four formulas are currently available for use, Pzifer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, which require two doses for complete immunization, and Janssen which only requires one jab. By July 31st, the Canarian Government expects to have 70% of the target population vaccinated, but there aren'tt the same number of doses available of each vaccine.

Every Monday 125,000 doses are delivered by Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen send between 14,000 and 16,000 a week, and it varies from AstraZeneca. Logistics and distribution also make a difference. "This has been carried out according to the availability of vaccines at all times for each age group and as more progress has been made in the islands, more Pfizer and AstraZeneca have been used, as they are the ones that more have arrived from, and with greater regularity," explains Reyero.

In fact, "when Janssen was approved for those over 70, that age group was already vaccinated in the smaller islands, and the same happened when it was approved for those over 50," she adds. So which vaccine will I get?

Age group 40 to 49:
Vaccination in this age group has just started. It was recently approved that they could receive the Janssen vaccine, but they can also get Moderna or Pfizer.

Age group 50 to 59:
This is the group that has recently started mass vaccination in the Canary Islands. You will receive either Pfizer, Moderna, or Janssen vaccines. In many cases it depends on the centre you go to. The first is still the most abundant, and the most likely you will receive.

Age group 60 to 69:
The vaccine indicated for people who were born between 1952 and 1961, as established by the Ministry's strategy, is AstraZeneca, recalls Begoña Reyero. "There is no choice of vaccination because it is the only vaccine for these ages in both the first and second doses, and the population is clear about it."

Age group over 70:
This was the first group in which vaccination was started and it was done with the Pfizer formula. In the Canary Islands this group is already fully immunized. The first inoculations also included health and social health personnel. Some were also vaccinated with Moderna and Janssen.

Under 16's:
Several countries have also started vaccinating those under 16 years of age, specifically young people aged between 12 and 15. This week the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, said that perhaps it will also be done in Spain before the start of the school year. Moderna and Pfizer have been approved.

Under 60's and AstraZeneca:
In the prioritization of the groups, essential professions and teachers were included regardless of age. AstraZeneca was inoculated until it was stopped in April. Many of these groups were left without their second dose. The SCS has already resumed vaccination of these people and recommends using Pfizer, but anyone who wants to, can still have a second dose of AstraZeneca.