Vaccine Hunters Canada says goodbye for a second time

TORONTO – Last year, Vaccine Hunters Canada launched a mission to help as many Canadians as possible find COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

Now, with more than 88 percent of Canadians aged five and over being vaccinated with at least one dose, the volunteer group says they are finally completing their surgeries.

“Exactly one year to the day Vaccine Hunters Canada began its operations, we are humbled to quietly close our doors,” the group said in a statement posted on its website Saturday. “What started as a person looking for a COVID-19 vaccine for their loved one has blossomed into a 100-person operation by caring volunteers who help people across Canada.”

Vaccine Hunters Canada began operations in March 2021, when the availability of COVID-19 vaccine was scarce throughout Canada and finding an open vaccination appointment was a challenge. The group would regularly post updates on social media about when a vaccination clinic opened or had doses available.

Andrew Young, the group’s founder, said the wide availability of vaccines was the main factor leading to the decision to close.

“People do not need to search for vaccination more intensively, compared to what it was in April to June 2021,” he said in a telephone interview with CTVNews.ca on Saturday.

“The team felt it was time to hang up our hats and move on.”

At its peak, the group was over 400,000 Followers on Twitter, although their number of followers has declined as more and more Canadians have been vaccinated. The project was also run entirely on a voluntary basis and never accepted donations, instead encouraging Canadians to donate to the Frontline Fund – a joint fundraising campaign between various hospital foundations across Canada to support health care providers.

“Without a doubt, the team – I’m most proud of them,” said Young. “They have put so much time and effort into making their time for something bigger than any of us, and yet there is no way I can thank them enough.”

It is not the first time that Vaccine Hunters Canada has announced that it will close. The group initially completed its day-to-day operations last August, but came out of the break in November as Canada began rolling out booster shots and vaccinations for children ages five to 11. Flood and demand “for its group services.

“That’s one of the main reasons why we’re back in surgery or resuming our operations, ‘Young explains.

Even as they close their operations, Young says online resources on Vaccine Hunters Canada are still available, as is their “Vaccine DIY” directory of vaccination information in every region across Canada.

“Thank you for all your support over the past year. The heart behind VHC helps your community and finds ways to help others. We hope everyone can find ways to work with their neighbors, communities and families to make this world a better place. “, said the group’s statement.