by: susan lazaruk
a rush on the astrazeneca vaccine after b.c. opened up supply to those 40-and-older made it difficult for people like catherine hopkins from even getting on a waiting list for her covid-19 jab.
hopkins, 54, tried to book at a number of pharmacies, the day her cohort was allowed to step up for astrazeneca.
“most were online booking only and were fully booked,” she said.
even though she had called a pharmacy close to her work in the kensington area with no luck, she decided to go in-person to increase her odds and chose a smaller independent drugstore that might not be as busy as the larger chains, a strategy she had read about online.
hopkins was told they had had some spots in the morning but were all booked, and they offered her the waiting list.
“i saw him write my name on a pad of paper and i didn’t think it would work,” she said. “but i told him i worked in the area” and could get there quickly if there was a cancellation. she got a call at 3 p.m. and got her jab at 5:10 p.m. right after work last tuesday.
“i feel lucky,” she said. “i have other friends who are still waiting for theirs.”
b.c. health minister adrian dix said all 314,000 doses of astrazeneca, which was made available first to those between 55 and 64 years old and then to those 40 to 64, were expected to be gone, and no new doses are expected this week.