Dear Editor:
I am honoured and privileged to say I am fully vaccinated as of July 3. I received this second dose earlier than expected, as I saw a Facebook post saying there were extra doses. I immediately got in my car to get my vaccine. How lucky!
My region had an abundance of supplies for its community, meanwhile communities across the globe are struggling against time to try and vaccinate their own populations.
Through this experience, it made me wonder how Canada compared to other countries in its vaccine rollout, especially since I had considered Canada lacking when compared to the United States in the last few months.
But the truth is Canada is exceeding numbers and expectations, while several countries in Africa are struggling to vaccinate more than 2% of its population. These countries lack the basics to properly distribute the vaccine, including: proper refrigeration, transportation, and qualified healthcare professionals. All these components that Canadians take for granted every day are missing in foreign countries.
It should not be a privilege to have access to healthcare and access to a lifesaving vaccine, but rather, it should be a basic right for everyone. As a country with extra doses, it should not even be a question about next steps to help those struggling with the vaccine rollout of other countries. Canada must help others to be able to provide them the same experience as I had on July 3.
Delana Hockey,
Fergus