The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has arrived at the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre.
Residents and front-line staff at the William A. George Extended Care Facility are the first to receive the vaccine, marking the start of Ontario’s vaccination plan for our region.
Chronic care patients and all hospital staff will receive the vaccine in the days ahead in the start of a three phased approach.
Facility Administrator Cynthia Dwyer says the vaccination adds a level of protection in their continued efforts to protect residents, patients, staff and physicians.
Dwyer adds “We also appreciate that with this Moderna vaccine we will be able to administer the vaccine to our residents in the comfort of their home. This has allowed this process to be done in a way that keeps them safe and comfortable.”
Health Centre CEO Heather Lee says they are grateful to be the first rural and northern community hospital to receive the vaccine, noting their health care team has worked tirelessly since the start of the pandemic to maintain and exceed practices that reduce the spread of COVID-19 in anticipation of this moment.
Lee says “We are working with the Ministry of Health to plan the rollout of the vaccine at SLMHC and support our health care partners as they work to provide the vaccine to those identified in this first phase. We are continuing to work closely with the Ministry of Health and other partners in health, including Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and the Northwestern Health Unit, in our advocacy for continued implementation of the vaccination plan.”
Minister of Health Christine Elliott says the arrival of vaccines in Sioux Lookout is a vital milestone in the provincial fight against the coronavirus.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP and Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development, Greg Rickford says “Our government continues to ensure that the vaccine rollout reaches every corner of our province to protect frontline workers, long-term care residents and remote Indigenous communities as quickly as possible. We continue to work closely with Nishnawbe Aski Nation and other Indigenous partners to ensure an efficient and culturally appropriate vaccine rollout to First Nations, Metis and Inuit people.”
