With few of us flying, we don’t hear stories of air rage anymore. They used to be all the rage, and on the rise. A nutter goes wild because a flight attendant doesn’t say “Please.”A frequent flyer doesn’t get his upgrade. Some fanboys drink too much, forcing the pilot to land in Dubuque.
I with ya, Bob! Months ago, when we were told the military folks would be in charge, I heaved a sigh of relief. Hooray, a group that knows how to organize and execute on time. But hey, nothing is organized or on time. The "no-plan" U.S. gave 3 million shots PER DAY this past weekend. I haven't any idea when a first shot is mine---by Canada Day? September? Christmas?
I've obeyed every 'rule' every bit of this past year but I really need to see some plan and execution soon or a little 'civil disobedience' may be called for. It wouldn't be the first time the age 70+ Boomers got things on track.
Great post Bob. I think Canada's performance when it comes to rolling out the vaccine for COVID 19 has been dismal and embarrassing. We have disjointed policies that sometimes do not make much sense and bureaucrats and politicians who are too slow to act. We really need to get our act together. We have world class scientists and if our government had supported them financially I am sure we could have come up with our own vaccine and been able to produce it ourselves so we would not have to beg KOVACS and the Americans for vaccines.
Thanks for your remarks, Bob. It really does clarify how I’ve been feeling for about two months now. First it was my friends in England .. happy for them but sad for me ... and now with this utter chaos and changing of minds it seems daily I can hardly breath anymore. The AstraZeneca decision was the final straw. I’m happy to wait my turn, but I can’t stand the queue leaping that is going on. And wow, how exciting it will be when they open it up to people, with underlying conditions. Not that I have anything against them. But when they have said they won’t be verifying the underlying conditions, that’s a recipe for a lot of freelancing. The only question remaining will be .. will I join in.
Such an excellent text!!! Thank you. Yes, Canada has screwed up royally, both on the communication and on the delivery fronts. My husband and I are 75 and 67 respectively and have fallen to the back of the line like so many other vulnerable members of the boomer generation. If the government would at least give us definitive information about dates, vaccine shipments, and let us book our jab slots now (!), even if we then still have to wait until May or June to catch up with the 60-64 year olds et al. Preposterous. Thanks for your excellent comments!!!
Sorry, and speaking as one with vaccine envy to match my underlying conditions, it’s not Canadians who have to be shamed into doing the right thing here, it’s Conservative premiers, ALL of whom have spent months pointing fingers at the federal government instead of organizing the tools they KNEW they’d need to handle distribution at the regional and local levels. Ford is a disgrace; Kenney not far behind; the Prairie provinces’ leadership woeful.
I also have vaccine envy -- I'm 69. My 64-year-old sister in England got her shot a couple of weeks ago, as did my 49-year-old daughter, also in England, who has serious underlying issues. I'm happy for them but pissed off about our dithering and finger-pointing. And putting the younger people ahead of us.
I feel your pain. As an unvaccinated 70 something Canadian I was moaning to a friend in South Carolina about my craving for a dinner in a restaurant with friends. She blithely said “well we’re all vaccinated now so we do all go out”. This was typed to the accompaniment of teeth gnashing.
Brilliant Bob!!! You re right on the money today!! We need you out there, speaking directly, honestly and without pulling punches or fearing the consequences! I've gone from feeling proud about how Canada has handled the pandemic to feeling completely disenfranchised and once again envious of our friends, colleagues and family in the USA. This is embarrassing and laughable - if it weren't so serious.
We had lots of advance notice that this was coming. We should have licensed the technology from Pfizer, Moderna and/or Astra-Zeneca and mandated that our pharma companies retool at Government expense to be capable of producing this. ! We could have been ready with mass production capability as soon as the vaccine protocols were finalized. And we should have had a well oiled supply chain for both raw materials and finished vaccines ready to role. Instead, our government's priorities were on currying favour with financial bailouts. They should focused on developing the essential capability of self sufficiency. Let this be a lesson for us all!!
My American self got a first shot of Moderna, with a second shot on April 3rd. My Canadian self is outraged that my compatriots have been left in vaccine limbo. I have just subscribed to RamsayWrites in the hope that Bob's rage will incite others to stand up and fight for their rights and to help Bob fly to Arizona to get his shot.
Very well put, Bob. I’ve never been more confused. I’m way beyond irritated - with both the Federal and Provincial governments. But until we make enough noise, as in your Olympics example, nothing will change. We’re still too taken with our “good Canadian selves” that we wouldn’t elect a Donald Trump. Turns out the Americans - finally - wouldn’t either. And they’re moving on...I hope. Oh well, I turned 77 last week and found there is one thing I’m still too young to do - get vaccinated.
Many of my friends are in my age bracket of 60-64 and therefore eligible for the the AstraZeneca vaccine now - which is easily available in pharmacies across Toronto. And there's a lot of people sitting on the fence on it given how many European countries have pressed the pause key due to risk of blood clots. Ireland was the latest. The US hasn't yet approved AZ.
It is all very simple. Canada has little or no vaccine manufacturing capacity. America refuses to send us ANY (good neighbour what). We rely on European producers who have been caught in vaccine competition/nationalism and factory conversion delays. All of this discussion about distribution/application efficiency or lack of serves little purpose when one realises that there has been no vaccine to distribute at various times. Our vaccine capacity was sold off by a Conservative government.
I'm so happy (but also really sad) that you wrote what I've been feeling and what appears to be yet more bungling by the Ontario Government regarding our vaccination program such as it is. At 74 I sit at the back of the plane waiting for news of my age group, while the daily debate about potential blood clots and such changes direction every day or even hour. Is it too much to ask to feel proud of one's government instead of mistrust and disappointment?
Well said as always Bob. At 50 I’m hoping to be vaccinated “some time this year” while we watch the most meek Canadian response to a global pandemic unfold and small businesses continue to suffer.
Hear, hear Bob! I am at the back of the plane too! I think we need to send your blog to Rick Mercer to turn into a rant or better still we all just forward your blog to the Premier. We need some action here!
I with ya, Bob! Months ago, when we were told the military folks would be in charge, I heaved a sigh of relief. Hooray, a group that knows how to organize and execute on time. But hey, nothing is organized or on time. The "no-plan" U.S. gave 3 million shots PER DAY this past weekend. I haven't any idea when a first shot is mine---by Canada Day? September? Christmas?
I've obeyed every 'rule' every bit of this past year but I really need to see some plan and execution soon or a little 'civil disobedience' may be called for. It wouldn't be the first time the age 70+ Boomers got things on track.
I'm 71 and with underlying health issues. All this confusion points to one thing. There is no plan.
Great post Bob. I think Canada's performance when it comes to rolling out the vaccine for COVID 19 has been dismal and embarrassing. We have disjointed policies that sometimes do not make much sense and bureaucrats and politicians who are too slow to act. We really need to get our act together. We have world class scientists and if our government had supported them financially I am sure we could have come up with our own vaccine and been able to produce it ourselves so we would not have to beg KOVACS and the Americans for vaccines.
Thanks for your remarks, Bob. It really does clarify how I’ve been feeling for about two months now. First it was my friends in England .. happy for them but sad for me ... and now with this utter chaos and changing of minds it seems daily I can hardly breath anymore. The AstraZeneca decision was the final straw. I’m happy to wait my turn, but I can’t stand the queue leaping that is going on. And wow, how exciting it will be when they open it up to people, with underlying conditions. Not that I have anything against them. But when they have said they won’t be verifying the underlying conditions, that’s a recipe for a lot of freelancing. The only question remaining will be .. will I join in.
Such an excellent text!!! Thank you. Yes, Canada has screwed up royally, both on the communication and on the delivery fronts. My husband and I are 75 and 67 respectively and have fallen to the back of the line like so many other vulnerable members of the boomer generation. If the government would at least give us definitive information about dates, vaccine shipments, and let us book our jab slots now (!), even if we then still have to wait until May or June to catch up with the 60-64 year olds et al. Preposterous. Thanks for your excellent comments!!!
Sorry, and speaking as one with vaccine envy to match my underlying conditions, it’s not Canadians who have to be shamed into doing the right thing here, it’s Conservative premiers, ALL of whom have spent months pointing fingers at the federal government instead of organizing the tools they KNEW they’d need to handle distribution at the regional and local levels. Ford is a disgrace; Kenney not far behind; the Prairie provinces’ leadership woeful.
I also have vaccine envy -- I'm 69. My 64-year-old sister in England got her shot a couple of weeks ago, as did my 49-year-old daughter, also in England, who has serious underlying issues. I'm happy for them but pissed off about our dithering and finger-pointing. And putting the younger people ahead of us.
I feel your pain. As an unvaccinated 70 something Canadian I was moaning to a friend in South Carolina about my craving for a dinner in a restaurant with friends. She blithely said “well we’re all vaccinated now so we do all go out”. This was typed to the accompaniment of teeth gnashing.
Brilliant Bob!!! You re right on the money today!! We need you out there, speaking directly, honestly and without pulling punches or fearing the consequences! I've gone from feeling proud about how Canada has handled the pandemic to feeling completely disenfranchised and once again envious of our friends, colleagues and family in the USA. This is embarrassing and laughable - if it weren't so serious.
We had lots of advance notice that this was coming. We should have licensed the technology from Pfizer, Moderna and/or Astra-Zeneca and mandated that our pharma companies retool at Government expense to be capable of producing this. ! We could have been ready with mass production capability as soon as the vaccine protocols were finalized. And we should have had a well oiled supply chain for both raw materials and finished vaccines ready to role. Instead, our government's priorities were on currying favour with financial bailouts. They should focused on developing the essential capability of self sufficiency. Let this be a lesson for us all!!
My American self got a first shot of Moderna, with a second shot on April 3rd. My Canadian self is outraged that my compatriots have been left in vaccine limbo. I have just subscribed to RamsayWrites in the hope that Bob's rage will incite others to stand up and fight for their rights and to help Bob fly to Arizona to get his shot.
Very well put, Bob. I’ve never been more confused. I’m way beyond irritated - with both the Federal and Provincial governments. But until we make enough noise, as in your Olympics example, nothing will change. We’re still too taken with our “good Canadian selves” that we wouldn’t elect a Donald Trump. Turns out the Americans - finally - wouldn’t either. And they’re moving on...I hope. Oh well, I turned 77 last week and found there is one thing I’m still too young to do - get vaccinated.
Many of my friends are in my age bracket of 60-64 and therefore eligible for the the AstraZeneca vaccine now - which is easily available in pharmacies across Toronto. And there's a lot of people sitting on the fence on it given how many European countries have pressed the pause key due to risk of blood clots. Ireland was the latest. The US hasn't yet approved AZ.
Bob
It is all very simple. Canada has little or no vaccine manufacturing capacity. America refuses to send us ANY (good neighbour what). We rely on European producers who have been caught in vaccine competition/nationalism and factory conversion delays. All of this discussion about distribution/application efficiency or lack of serves little purpose when one realises that there has been no vaccine to distribute at various times. Our vaccine capacity was sold off by a Conservative government.
Brian Felske
I'm so happy (but also really sad) that you wrote what I've been feeling and what appears to be yet more bungling by the Ontario Government regarding our vaccination program such as it is. At 74 I sit at the back of the plane waiting for news of my age group, while the daily debate about potential blood clots and such changes direction every day or even hour. Is it too much to ask to feel proud of one's government instead of mistrust and disappointment?
Well said as always Bob. At 50 I’m hoping to be vaccinated “some time this year” while we watch the most meek Canadian response to a global pandemic unfold and small businesses continue to suffer.
Hear, hear Bob! I am at the back of the plane too! I think we need to send your blog to Rick Mercer to turn into a rant or better still we all just forward your blog to the Premier. We need some action here!