Wednesday, December 22, 2021

The vaccination clusterf--k

Hurry up and wait (for the jab)
London, ON
December 2021
This photo originally shared on Instagram


Ontario is a lot like the Hunger Games these days, as ordinary citizens scramble to lock down an appointment for their third vaccine dose.

This was the scene in a bitterly cold shopping mall parking lot early this morning as we joined the fray.

We're the lucky ones: we have the means to both own and use the technology - smartphones, apps, mobile data plans, etc. - that so many others do not. We have a car to get us to whatever location has whatever availability, even if it's a few counties away. We have the resources to be in the middle of a shopping mall parking lot long before anyone really ought to.

What about those who don't have access to these resources but still want to protect themselves and help end this global mess? Not a whole lot of talk about them. Sure, they can call the toll-free lines and sit on the endless hold, only to be told there are no more appointments. Or randomly skip from one pop-up clinic to another. Because I'm sure they so look forward to waiting futilely for help that will probably never come.

As I stood in the windswept darkness this morning, I mused about the elected leader of our province, Premier Doug Ford, who as Omicron cases multiplied, slipped out in secret to his cottage. This is a theme with him, that he disappears whenever things get hot.

And for some reason it's getting zero media play. Imagine that.

I'm sure Mr. Ford has minions who book his vaccine appointments. I'm sure he has little interest in a few hundred Ontarians huddled in the predawn cold. Or the countless others wondering why it's so difficult to protect themselves, and why we haven't learned the lessons of previous vaccine rollouts.

The dichotomy is shameful. The lack of outrage is similarly frustrating. We can do better. Why we aren't is inexcusable.

I do hope you're having a great vacation, Mr. Ford. I also hope one of your candidates shows up at my door before next year's election, because I'll have lots of questions.

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