caretaker

Regina is apparently rife with variant cases, so I turned down an offer to go for fish and chips on last day before lockdown. When they expanded vaccine eligibility to include my age group the drive through promptly ran out of vaccine so it's been closed for a couple of days. Then they expanded appointment eligibility too so I booked one in April. If I get a chance to use the drive through first, I can cancel my appointment.

BristolUK

New Brunswick really can't make up its mind.

Initially it was suggested that over 45s with at least three medical conditions would be among the high priority groups for early vax. But when it was formalised they weren't there; only those with complications like Dialysis, just 'regular' chronic kidney disease didn't count.

Then they announced that after the over 80s and over 70s they'd do the 18-24s because they were out and about - I paraphrase. This brought a strong reaction from people pointing out over 60s were more at risk and the government backed down, putting the over 60s back in. So I was just waiting for the announcement that late 60s could make appointments followed by earlier 60s and hoping that maybe they could do us all together.

I just happened to look at the government website last night to see if any groups had been added since the last announcement and you could have knocked me down with a feather. There's a whole new category group of over 40 with at least three conditions and it's back as originally suggested, just the conditions. There is still a group with complicated treatments etc but finally official acceptance that co-morbidities put people at greater risk. Best bit it says appointments can now be made for April.

So I made an on-line appointment, printed some forms off to take and I'm all set for Tuesday 6th.

I rechecked the government website under covid news - and there's no announcement about new categories or appointments being open for the next group since one made on the 24th. There's nothing in today's newspaper and today's latest covid update on the CBC website says nothing either.

It seems I just got lucky soon after the vaccine part of the website was updated and before any announcements.

Just mildly irritated that my MIL (over 80) could have made an appointment a couple of weeks ago but she was waiting for me and we'd have made appointments at the pharmacy as with last year's flu shots. So she's waited for nothing because mine has to be done at a special vax centre.

But at least we're getting done.

Shard

Bizarre that NB would think of vaccinating youngsters first. There's definitely something to be said for a national approach to pandemic response.

scrubbedexpat091

This wont boost confidence in Astra Zeneca vaccine in Canada.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ast...JeEOvX-__B1gNk

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is expected to recommend today a pause in the use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine on those under the age of 55 because of safety concerns, sources told CBC News.

Atlantic Xpat

News conference shortly in NL about Covid & given that we've already reported zero new cases today, either there has been a cock up in reporting or, as is more likely, NL is going to stop giving out AZ as per the CBC story. Bad news as we need every bloody dose we can get & doesn't do much for confidence. One imagines though that with 30m people vaccinated in the UK and an increasing pool of AZ vaccines in that total, that real world incidence of any problems is going to become rapidly apparent. In other words, we're now beyond clinical trials of hundreds or thousands of subjects and into hundreds of thousands if not millions of doses given.

Mrs AX has had two major blood clots in the past 9 years (one of which damn near killed her) & is on blood thinning meds for life. While I'd be happy taking the AZ, I think I'd prefer for her to get Moderna/Pfizer.

In other Covid news out here in the Far East, we're well over our UK Variant spike that necessitated a month long lock down and back into level 2. Schools, bars and restaurants back open & potentially back into the Atlantic travel bubble next month.

scrubbedexpat091

BC reported to be halting indoor dining, Premier, Health Officer and Health Minister will have a press conference later today according to sources.

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-restr...ants-1.5366771

scrubbedexpat091

2,518 new cases over the weekend here in BC.

6 deaths over the weekend.

variant of concern still increasing, UK and Brazil variants of most concern.

BC suspending use of AZ vaccine for the time being for under 55.

Confirmed restaurants will have to close indoor dining, outdoor patio dining will be permitted.

Indoor religious gatherings for the holidays that was announced last week to be allowed will now not be allowed.

Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is also being forced to close.

Through April 19th for the time being.

Grade 4 to 12 will need to wear masks at all times while in school.


*typed from live news conference.

Danny B

I feel bad for restaurant owners, but surely there cannot be that many people eating indoors at a restaurant these days? Everyone must realize that indoor transmission is where the majority of the spread occurs? I haven't been inside a restaurant for over 1 year now. Plenty of take out, but no eating indoors.

printer

I've eaten out plenty, don't have a problem. Difficult to look at restaurants as an issue when so many other indoor places are open and functioning.

Revin Kevin

Wonder if Canada will be like Europe "we don't think you're AZ vaccine is safe - but we still want much more anyway" - clowns!

BristolUK

Really? From an item about 'eat out to help out' which is well worth a read in its own right... Now factor in that in other places you are moving in, out, and around with others likewise on the move. Close distances are fleeting and people are masked up reducing any covid output the unknowingly infected may have.

Compare that to sitting in one place for an hour or two and others nearby also remaining in one place for a similar time. You're eating, they're eating, so for the time you're all eating you're all maskless with any covid output someone may unknowingly have not being limited.

BristolUK

I phoned the pharmacy at 9.00am to make my MIL an appointment for her jab.
11.20 this morning

Danny B

What other places in BC are open that allow you to sit down indoors and be mask less for an hour? I can't think of many besides religious indoor gatherings.

Shard

I hope these vaccines work. The idea of eating out with friends again makes me nervous.

Jerseygirl

Excellent...do you know what vaccine? AZ has come under much negative press over the last 24 hrs in Canada. Tens of millions of people in the UK and Europe have had the vaccine. Only a handful of people have developed a rare blood clot, and they don’t even know whether it was caused by the vaccine.

In Toronto I hear the medical staff are stood around the near empty mass max centres. They have even been knocking on doors and going to schools, offering to vax teachers. There are over 7K empty appointments for this week. The mass max centres use Pfizer and Moderna. I just don’t get it...why aren’t people getting vaccinated.