Photo Credit: Vax Hunter AB Twitter account

By Shane Clausing

Vaccine Hunters Alberta

Vaccine Hunters Alberta social media account gaining popularity

May 3, 2021 | 3:00 PM

A social media account with the purpose of notifying Alberta residents of available COVID-19 vaccine appointments across the province has taken off on social media.

The Twitter account Vax Hunter Alberta was started by Janaya Mathison and Sarah Mackey from Edmonton. Both Mathison and Mackey don’t have any background in healthcare and created the account to help get the word of available vaccine appointments out to Albertans everywhere.

The account was started three weeks ago and has since gained over 4,500 followers on Twitter.

Mathison says the success of the account has been great to see.

“I’m sure we’ve helped thousands (of people). It’s turned into a grassroots movement where now we have people going into their communities and sharing this information.”

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Mathison tells EverythingGP because of the growth of the account, they’ve been able to identify more available vaccine appointments.

“We know what’s available in different areas, as well as by just checking the pharmacy sites and seeing what we can help people with. We are now at the point where people send us tips, which is really helpful.”

Mathison mentioned pharmacists across the province have begun reaching out to the account via direct message or email telling them about the vaccine appointments available at select locations.

This has made it easier for the account to get information and it also allows them to push the information about the appointments faster.

While news of available appointments is getting out to the public in a timely matter, Mathison says there are currently a lot of appointments available for booking across the province, especially in the Peace Region.

“I’m not sure if it’s a problem of people not knowing if they are eligible or people being hesitant about AstraZeneca, but it is shocking how many appointments are available across the province and in the Grande Prairie region and how many eligible people are unvaccinated.”

Mathison encourages everyone to book their vaccination appointments as soon as possible.