COVID-19 vaccines hit the market with such force and speed, I admit to mentally greeting them with a mixture of yeehaw and terror. This pandemic is now approximately 14 months in, and we’re already getting jabbed left, right and centre. It’s incredible, when you think about it.

But it’s also a tad daunting. How thoroughly can you test brand new vaccines in a matter of months?

To wit: having been assured that AstraZeneca’s clotting issues were outrageously rare, and that I would not receive a vaccine for months if I didn’t bare my muscle for it, we are now learning otherwise. Some studies show that the clotting problem, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia or VITT (what a mouthful), is considerably less rare than originally thought and really very serious.

Furthermore, I could have landed a different vaccine within about a month, or less if I’d had the sense to access the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s clinic.

Now I’m wondering whether to hope for a Pfizer in two or three months. Studies are showing that it’s safe to mix vaccines, although the side effects are more pronounced. What we have not yet learned is whether this is a good thing to do from an immunity standpoint. A couple of quite brilliant virologists have suggested it would be.

Meanwhile, our government, along with several others, now seems less thrilled about AZ despite its exhortations to get vaxxed with whatever was on offer. The message, as always, is confusing.

First, the government said, AZ vaccines will not go into those getting a first shot.

Then our chief medical health offer said that it’s “likely” those who received AZ as a first shot might get the Pfizer due to AZ supply issues.

Then our minister of health says we are getting more AZs, and those will be available as second doses, as well as at drive-throughs as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, other provinces have halted AZ delivery due to health, not supply, concerns.

While I know everyone is scrambling to get us individually protected and somewhere near herd immunity, I still feel baffled by the about-faces and varying responses to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Not to mention whether a second-dose Pfizer will be appropriate for the 73,000 who received it. I think I hope so.

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On what planet was it sensitive, intelligent or remotely appropriate for a Saskatoon real estate agent to question the gender of Canada’s chief public health officer? Furthermore, why would he care? Were we just looking for sensationalist uproar among our friends? I just can’t fathom the motivation.

Dr. Theresa Tam, in my view, is doing a great job overall and striving to make the best possible decisions on our behalf. That’s what matters. Any personal comments are way off base.

I’ve heard on the CBC News that he is seeking sensitivity training. Bit late, but go for it. Not sure if we should need sensitivity training for something as basic as not being offensive and rude as heck (which is not the word I’d like to use, but this is a family paper).

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Whoa, there’s been quite the uproar about Prairieland Park lately. Killing Marquis Downs has again brought to the surface that on-andoff issue about whether Prairieland’s business model is appropriate, along with whether there is enough city control over what happens on its 136 acres of land. City-owned land.

It pays a completely symbolic one hundred bucks to city coffers. And while Prairieland collects an amusement tax, it goes to sustaining the buildings on site — not to the heavily-used roads leading in there, for one example of why we gather taxes. Furthermore, COVID-era aside, the organization is profitable; does it really need that kind of special treatment?

And despite its location, city council has little say on where Prairieland’s funds go, nor on how it conducts business.

The question, then, is should Prairieland be calling all its own shots, like eliminating horse racing?

I admit I’m still wading in deep waters trying to sort all of this out, but one thing is for sure: this conversation is one worth having.

-Joanne Paulson