The idea was since there was not enough shots, the federal government was going to roll out the vaccination drive in phases, with the high risk groups done first, then everyone else later.

But ... this was still voluntary from what I can tell. Maybe the hospitals will force their workers to take the shot, but I do not have details on that.

The groups that go first, are the ones that are essential services, such as hospitals, police, social workers, and then the Canadian aboriginals all get to be first in line, and the elderly were first in line.

Not sure how the decision was made that the aboriginals were given priority, but this in Canada, and people will not complain too much about it. Then later we find the homeless were lumped in with the aboriginals. Why is that the case, no one really knows, and it would be politically incorrect to ask questions. The polite Canadian keep their mouth shut!

So in Canada, beside the workers on the front line fighting the disease helping the patients, the aboriginals came next (understandable in a way) and the homeless (huh?), they were given shots first along with the elderly.

At this stage of the roll out, people were given a choice of which vaccine to take. It was a choice between Pfizer and AstraZeneca. But in a matter of a couple of weeks, the government decided that AstraZeneca will not be given anymore to old people.

AstraZeneca could still be given to people who want it but only in a pharmacy. The shots are administered to the general public in a public building or in a pharmacy. The government health workers probably get their shots in the hospitals.

At first, no one in my family qualified for a shot, other than mother. Since everyone in Chinatown was getting their shot, her friends, of course she demanded to rush in too! So she got her Pfizer shot at the Toronto Metro Convention Center. At that point, there was still a choice between two brands. The old people showed up for that one. The second shot will be in 3 months in July, which is a long wait.

There is one hour of free parking in downtown Toronto, and a time set in 20 minute intervals were on the website to book. Bookings can only be done on via the internet.

In a way, we can see, there was organization and there was a plan.

In execution, that is where things go sideways. The clearest example is the homeless, they are first in line, but they have to book through the internet like everyone else. Geez, wonder if that guy living in the tent one block from me has high speed internet?

The vaccines are rationed. Therefore, naturally they will run out of vaccines. Then they declare this vaccine is still good, AstraZeneca, but not for the elderly.

Apparently some places in the province have run out of vaccines, and people who booked, were told to wait.

Two days ago, I read a report of vaccine hunters in Toronto, helping people find a vaccine. That clearly indicated that the system for vaccination was chaotic. Here is another report about these activites today.
https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/04/vaccine-hunters-canada-toronto/

When we live here long enough, we know things are chaotic when the story is described this way.

The government wanted to be fair, transparent and efficient in this vaccine roll out as this is really important.

But only in three weeks, word of mouth is the best avenue to get a shot for who knows how many? Word of mouth is basically all about connections. If you know someone with supply, or just happen to know someone who knows someone, then the system is rigged for you.

This is not out of malevolence, this is just people trying to cope with an escalating dangerous situation.

But this is Canada, and eventually they will figure it out. All vaccinations are free.

When I went today to get my shot, not many there. They extended the age limit lower so I guess it was my turn and I signed up. They notified me in the morning and there I was there in the afternoon. The pharmacist only asked if I was allergic to something. No questions were asked if I was a front line worker, an aboriginal, or homeless. Did not expect that to be asked anyways that should not be part of her job.

It was quiet. If they do 4 people an hour, then it would be 40 people a day at a single pharmacy. That seems slow. Maybe other pharmacies have a higher traffic. Basically no one there went I went. LOL!

Maybe the anti-vaxers are a real force, more powerful than originally thought?