It’s been a long year living with the COVID-19 pandemic. After 12 months of being told what we can and can’t do, most of us are tired of coronavirus restrictions and keen to resume a semblance of our pre-COVID lives.
And what better medicine for pandemic fatigue than the start of B.C.’s vaccination rollout this month. It’s coming, and not a moment too soon.
Those over 80 will start getting shots this month, with most of those expected to be completed by early April.
Granted, the vaccine program has been slow getting off the ground. If we compare the percentage of those vaccinated in Canada to other countries like the United States or United Kingdom, Canada’s status in the vaccine sweepstakes is rather stark.
But vaccines are a hot commodity. Canada has sourced its supply from factories in Europe, and is far from the biggest customer in line.
On a global scale, it makes sense that the countries with the biggest outbreaks got their vaccines going fastest.
Meanwhile we are, as Dr. Bonnie Henry reminds us, playing the hand we were dealt.
News this week that one dose of the vaccine offers long-lasting protection is a game changer, effectively moving up the dates for younger people to get a shot by several months. Approval of a third vaccine – with a fourth imminent – could soon push that even faster and farther.
So far, the vaccines have far outstripped early hopes for their effectiveness. They provide the best chance for us to achieve herd immunity and get our lives back.
Which one should you get? That’s easy. The first one that’s offered to you. Please and thanks.
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