I want the latest dose of the covid vaccine. I know, the top of my head is exploding just anticipating all the yelling and finger pointing and general mayhem that statement will ignite. But here’s what I know: we are nearly six years into this situation and neither I, nor the young lady I am caregiver to, have either had covid. Good luck? Good science? Either way, I want to do everything possible to continue that winning streak.
So in my case, the challenge isn’t whether to get it – it’s how to get it. With government withdrawal from supporting the cost of providing this public health measure for Albertans, coupled with the lack of information about how to obtain a shot, it seems we are left to hunt them down ourselves. Well, my trusted community pharmacy would be able to help, I thought. Wrong – they had received no information or direction whatsoever when I last inquired. It is apparently going through Public Health and that’s all they know, they said. Okay, so a search with Public Health reveals it goes through something perhaps called Book Vaccine Now. Couldn’t locate that.
My search is also clouded with the expectation that neither me (a senior, I think, since I’m in my 65th year) nor my daughter (a person living with multiple disabilities) will be covered for the vaccine. Obscure criteria for waving the anticipated $100 cost seems only to be ‘those living in a congregated setting’. Two hundred dollars in my household is a big, unanticipated expense. I did sign up through an online portal to complete various surveys to help corporations better understand their clientele, but after four days and filling out several surveys I had made $2.17 Canadian. Would have to fill out surveys 24/7 for a long time to cover even a fraction of one covid shot. Best approach is to divide and conquer!
Knowing we are all supposed to put on our oxygen mask first when a plane is going down, I figured I should research access to the vaccine for seniors. I already know I will fork out the funding for one vaccine, so now I have to figure out which of us will be immunized. Back to public health to see about vaccine coverage for seniors… Wait, an article in the Advocate is sharing an actual link to the Alberta Vaccine Booking System! That sounds promising! The result of the link, however, is simply a general pot where they collect names of people whose intent is to get a vaccine. No indication of cost, timeline or any other information.
I left my name in the pot, of course, like a little bingo ball swirling around looking for a solid place to land. Meanwhile, I began outlining my personal strategy for protecting my daughter in the weeks ahead, when children are gathered back together in school settings and the numbers are expected to spike. Knowing her compromised health is more likely to lead to serious complications, she’ll be the one to get the shot.
On the upside, I heard on the news that both BC and Manitoba will provide covid shots to Albertans if there is a spot available after their residents receive their doses. Maybe a roadtrip is in order, especially to visit such generous places that honour their citizens. But that would cost more, of course, than what the Alberta government is charging for their people to be vaccinated. We, like you, are simply doing what we can – and fighting the good fight – to remain as healthy as possible.
Like my friendly pharmacist said at the very beginning of this quest, “Good luck to you.” Good luck to all of us, I think. Seriously.