I couldn’t help it. I just had to run this “vaxxie” (vaccine-selfie). They are now all the rage with my fellow Canadian Gen-Xers.
Last week, I was lucky enough to snag a coveted appointment for a vaccine at the community centre in Wakefield, after the province announced the day prior that it was dropping the age to 45 and up for those willing to get the AstraZeneca jab.
Booyah!
I made history, being one of about 88,000 people in Quebec who got vaccinated April 22 — a one-day record for COVID-19 vaccinations across the province. My cohort is coming out in droves, showing no fear in the face of the headlines about the AZ vax.
In Quebec, more people in the 45 to 54 age group got the shot or made appointments in one day of eligibility than those in the 55 to 59 age group managed over two weeks. #GenXZeneca
I was so stoked to get my first shot; if there had been a mosh pit somewhere close by, I’d have jumped in and screamed that, come Aug. 12 (the date of my second vaccine), it will be time to “Fight, for (my) right to paaaaarty!” (For all you Baby Boomers, that’s a Beastie Boys reference.)
If you haven’t guessed yet, we Gen-Xers are wearing our lack of AZ fear on our sleeves. While some reading this column are still nervously wondering if they should shop around for a Pfizer or Moderna after reports of the very rare risk of blood clotting events associated with AstraZeneca, I’d like to take a pause from showing off to repeat the message being made by the vast majority of scientists in this country and elsewhere: the best vaccine is the first vaccine you can get.
The risk of a clot is roughly one in 250,000 — you are more likely to have a car accident. The chances of contracting COVID-19 during this dangerous third wave are way higher, so please, book your appointment for whatever brand as soon as you can. It can save lives: others’ and your own. Plus, you can show off your own vaxxie.