Lois Lick receives the first COVID-19 vaccine at Princess Court, administered by RN Kim Oltsher. (Photo courtesy of Princess Court Administration)
A turning point in the fight against COVID-19.
Long-term residents are now receiving the vaccine in Dryden, Red Lake and Kenora.
The rollout started Wednesday at Princess Court and Pinecrest Home and continues Thursday at Northwood Lodge.
Kenora District Home for the Aged Administrator Kevin Queen says they will be starting with some residents with an estimated 60 doses in Kenora, 40 in Dryden and enough to vaccinate all 32 residents in Red Lake.
Queen says they aren’t getting enough for everybody at the moment but stresses they are quite excited to get this process started.
He notes they hope to have the vaccination program for residents completed within the next several days with the hope of receiving additional supplies in the near future.
Queen says they still don’t know when they will be able to vaccinate staff and essential care givers.
“We haven’t been told yet. We were expecting it on February 1 so this is already earlier. We’re quite happy we are getting it now so hopefully it will be in that timeframe anyway. We know it’s coming soon.”
Queen stresses although they have fortunately remained COVID-free, this is another level of protection against the virus.
He notes “It does not mean that we can stop being vigilant. We still have to wear our masks and do our regular swab tests.”
The vaccination program also started today for residents at Rainycrest Long-Term Care in Rainy River.
Residents at the Emo and Rainy River Health Centres will receive their first doses Thursday.
The Northwestern Health Unit has received a total of 300 vaccines in the first wave and officials still expect to meet the goal to have all long term care residents vaccinated by February 5.
The second dose of the vaccine should arrive within a month.
