'Alberta boomers, step aside': Gen-Xers rally on social media as AstraZeneca vaccine eligibility expands
Gen X celebrates lowered age limit with Blockbuster and Nirvana throwbacks
When eligibility for the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine expanded to include Albertans 40 and over on Tuesday, the so-called "slacker generation" took just 24 hours to demolish the legitimacy of its nickname.
Gen-Xers rushed to mass vaccination sites in Calgary and Edmonton like it was the opening of a John Hughes movie. Or a Nirvana concert. Or Blockbuster on a Friday night.
Seeing my Fellow GenX’ers get their COVID vaccines today makes me want to celebrate with GenX gif’s ... how about you?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GenX?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GenX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CovidVaccine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CovidVaccine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19AB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19AB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19ON?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19ON</a> <a href="https://t.co/qv4VYC0IO2">pic.twitter.com/qv4VYC0IO2</a>
—@FionaMattatallHow you know Gen X is now eligible for the vaccine. <a href="https://t.co/skzXbnEqxw">https://t.co/skzXbnEqxw</a>
—@nenshiGot my ID ready for my appointment tomorrow. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AstraZeneca?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AstraZeneca</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19AB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19AB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GenX?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GenX</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZfmXkepCrk">pic.twitter.com/ZfmXkepCrk</a>
—@martantomkatIn fact, Alberta Health Services said more appointments were made for the shot in the span of 2½ hours on Tuesday than all of last week — a meteoric rise for the vaccine that previously generated lower uptake among those 55 and over.
And a lot of newly eligible Albertans took to Twitter to rally, celebrate the hallmarks of their generation and take a couple of swipes at boomers who seemingly chose to forgo the shot.
Boomers getting first pick of all the vaccines and then Gen-X getting whatever's left that they didn't want is pretty much perfect.
—@jfiliatraultOK Alberta boomers, step aside because this GenXer is AZ vaxxed! I wore my Breakfast Club t-shirt and played Jane's Addiction to the big non-event.
—@karst_justineDuring the first hours of booking Tuesday, about 6,500 appointments were made in the Edmonton health zone and another 15,000 were booked in the Calgary zone.
And by just 10:30 a.m., more than 27,000 people had booked appointments.
"For context, 4,525 people received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Edmonton, and 5,559 people received AstraZeneca in Calgary between April 12 and April 18," AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson told CBC Edmonton on Tuesday.
Got the vaccine in my Last Unicorn tattoo 😃 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AstraZeneca?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AstraZeneca</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GetVaccinated?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GetVaccinated</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GenX?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GenX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19AB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19AB</a> <a href="https://t.co/ORaKoA8QxK">pic.twitter.com/ORaKoA8QxK</a>
—@Lunatas5I AM BOOKED for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AstraZeneca?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AstraZeneca</a>. <br><br>Thursday.<br><br>Let’s show’em how it’s done <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GenX?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GenX</a> <a href="https://t.co/0azwNMulne">pic.twitter.com/0azwNMulne</a>
—@ryannorthcottIn spite of the rush for bookings, the demographic was seemingly undeterred by longer wait times on the phone and in line.
"Yes I am PUMPED for the inevitable booking frenzy alongside fellow gen-Xers who spent 20 yrs booking U2 tickets online to train for this," one Calgarian tweeted.
AstraZeneca opens up for 40+ in AB tomorrow. Some thoughts:<br>Damn right I'll be getting it. <br>No I'm not scared. I ate British Beef for 25+yrs. <br>Yes I am PUMPED for the inevitable booking frenzy alongside fellow Gen Xers who spent 20 yrs booking U2 tickets online to train for this.
—@chrisroachYYC"Slacker generation?" Not anymore.
"Forgotten generation"? Not today.
"Today we're the 'I believe the science generation,'" Spruce Grove Coun. Erin Stevenson tweeted.
Gen X may be the forgotten generation but today we’re the “I believe the science generation.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AstraZeneca?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AstraZeneca</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GenX?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GenX</a> <a href="https://t.co/DewBeR7Eck">pic.twitter.com/DewBeR7Eck</a>
—@ErinStevensonSGWell, there’s a lot more people on Team Zenecan now! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/abhealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#abhealth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVIDAB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVIDAB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UniofOxford?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UniofOxford</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AstraZeneca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AstraZeneca</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yyc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yyc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yeg?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yeg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/genx?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#genx</a> <a href="https://t.co/uRVICVioTv">pic.twitter.com/uRVICVioTv</a>
—@Zoey105With files from Wallis Snowdon