Jubilation at making vaccine list

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This article was published 24/04/2021 (1973 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When he woke up Friday, Lyndon Froese was too young to be vaccinated against COVID-19. By noon, he had an appointment to get his first shot.

The difference? Froese’s home address in Winnipeg.

“This is a good thing,” he said. “I figured I would be one of the last people in the country to get it, and now I’m getting it.”

On Friday, the Manitoba government announced new rules for vaccination eligibility.

Froese, 36, lives in West Broadway, one of three city neighbourhoods deemed by provincial public health officials to be at high risk of people contracting and spreading the novel coronavirus.

The province is allowing anyone over the age of 18 to be vaccinated if they live in parts of downtown, Point Douglas, and Inkster.

As well, the province will vaccinate anyone who works in certain jobs in those areas, including school staff, child-care providers, food processing facilities, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and anywhere that serves food, including restaurants and food banks.

Earlier this week, the province announced front-line police and firefighters were eligible for the vaccine.

“I wasn’t aware I lived in a (pandemic) hot spot,” said Froese. “I didn’t realize by living in West Broadway I was near death’s door.

“I had no idea I was suddenly going to qualify to be vaccinated. I thought it was going to be a long time away.”

Froese is four years too young to be eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine at a medical clinic or pharmacy, and 14 years below the current requirement of 50 to get vaccinated at a super site or a pop-up clinic as part of the general population.

At David Livingstone School, the aptly named Melissa Livingstone, a Grade 2 teacher, said she and other teachers at the school, about a block away from Main Street south of Selkirk Avenue, are thrilled their time has suddenly come.

“A lot of people were excited — and relieved as well. I won’t have to worry about bringing the virus home with me to my two kids,” said Livingstone, 28.

The last year has been filled with “a lot of anxiety,” she said, especially with many of the youngest children at the school not being required to wear masks.

“This has been a nerve-racking year,” she said. “This is a very wonderful feeling. Before this, I was very, very far away from getting (vaccinated).”

Hughie Glover, a bartender at King’s Head Pub, said he will be thrilled once the needle is in his arm.

“I’m only 25, so I would have had to wait until the bitter end to get vaccinated. Now, I feel more safe already,” he said. “I am super excited.”

Restaurants and bars have been under orders that restrict the number of diners inside and on patios outside at various times throughout the past year. With few customers, many staff in the service industry have been laid off.

“I just want this in my arm as soon as possible,” Glover said.

Yonas Zewude works at the Husky Service Station and convenience store on Isabel Street, a few blocks south of the Salter Street Bridge.

When contacted by a reporter, Zewude initially said he didn’t know he and fellow employees were eligible for vaccinations due to their work location.

“I am very happy,” he said. “We work here and we want to be safe.

“I will definitely go and I will bring it to everybody’s attention here. This is great for everybody.”

Elsewhere, a Winnipeg police officer, who asked not to be identified, said he is glad he and his colleagues qualify for a shot.

“Every time I leave the cruiser, I put on my paper mask and I put my cloth mask over it,” he said. “But if you run into a gun call, a stab call, or a shooting, you don’t have time to put them on. So far, I’ve escaped getting (COVID), but I did have a couple of close contacts.

“It’s a huge relief.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca