All health workers deserve priority

As a health-care worker, I must speak out to share the sense of disrespect being felt by many important members of the health-care team.

Since the beginning of time, health-care workers have been vital; we were identified as essential by our governments at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic.

It strengthened our resolve knowing that we, as essential workers, are making a difference to our patients, clients and residents on the front line.

From the start of this pandemic, health-care workers had (successfully) argued for an increase in the amount of available personal protective equipment. This is hardly something that should require negotiation; one would think that this would naturally be provided.

We continue to face short staffing, increased workloads, burnout, all prevalent during this pandemic ... still we endure.

When the news hit that a vaccine had been developed and health-care workers were given the priority, it sounded too good to be true. I gained a little bit of faith that our government got it right.

Once vaccinated, I would no longer have to worry so much about bringing it home ... but as in all things, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The government has now revamped the vaccine rollout such that not all health-care workers are a priority as some have received the vaccine and others will wait until their age category.

This leaves many of us confused and angry — are we essential or disposable?

Janine Lazaro, Saskatoon