5 minute read
Vaccines roll out at LTC homes, hospitals
By Mark Ribble
REGIONAL — As the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines made their way into Ontario in recent weeks, it was only a matter of time before they would reach this region.
Last week, the province announced that Windsor-Essex would be among the first of the ‘hot-spot’ regions to get vaccines into the arms of all residents and staff of long-term care facilities by January 21.
This news came as a welcome glimmer of hope for families with parents in long-term care and also for those who work in the healthcare field.
The Sun reached out to several people in the healthcare field who have received their vaccines.
Some were told by their employers not to speak to the media, so they have been removed from the story by request. Others were able to answer our questions and shed light on their emotions having experienced the vaccine.
Wheatley’s Erica Jessee works as a PSW at Franklin Gardens in Leamington and she received the shot last week.
Other than a sore arm, she said there were no other side effects.
For Erica, it was an emotional visit to the vaccination centre.
“I was very emotional after being given the vaccine,” she said. “It’s a sigh of relief, but also, just looking back on the wild year we had, it’s a scary time to be a healthcare worker and also a parent.”
She expressed that she thought all healthcare workers had very mixed emotions.
“I think it’s a mixed feeling for healthcare workers — a little bit of fear because it’s so new — but maybe the light at the end of the tunnel for us.”
Kim Simard-Grubb of Wheatley has been a Nurse Practitioner at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre since 2013 and before that, a Registered Nurse at WRH. She received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 5.
“As a frontline care provider to immunocompromised cancer patients, I knew my answer would be ‘yes’,” she said. “By agreeing to be immunized, I am protecting and keeping those people safe who may not be currently eligible for the vaccine.”
“I have to say that, hearing the words ‘you are eligible for the COVID vaccine’ overwhelmed me with emotions,” she added. “I am honoured and humbled to be part of history in the making.”
Her arm was sore for the first 24 hours, but she did not experience any other side effects.
“This decision is bigger than just me,” she added. “It is for the overall good of mankind.”
Nancy McVeigh is the Nutrition Manager at Franklin Gardens in Leamington and she received her first dose of the vaccine on December 28, with her follow-up dose scheduled for January 19.
“I felt the need to keep myself safe,” she said. “Secondly, I enjoy my job and want to keep the residents safe. Their families are waiting to see them too.”
McVeigh also has children and grandchildren that she wants to keep safe and hopes that many will follow suit. She had some arm soreness with her first dose, but experienced no other symptoms.
Shannon Miller of Leamington, is a PSW at the Sun Parlor Home, who received her first vaccine last week as well.
“My arm was sore for about 24 hours, like it is with every vaccine,” she said. “I had a slight headache and was exhausted.”
“Some of us were scared and nervous about getting the vaccine,” she added. “However, I knew I was doing the right thing for myself, as well as my residents.”
Brenda Hickson is a housekeeper at Chartwell Leamington and, though she had some initial reluctance, she is glad she got the vaccine.
“I was very hesitant at first because I have some underlying health issues and there are so many unknowns,” she said. Hickson had some tenderness at the injection site, but no other side effects.
“My hopes are, that by getting the vaccine, it will be a positive step to getting back to some type of normal life with family,” she added. “It is a very personal choice, but will keep myself and the elderly who I work with closely, safe.”
Over at Seacliff Manor, receptionist Laurie McConnell-Borschke felt no pain or after effects.
“The first word is safety for our residents and I also have an aging mother that I want to protect,” she said.
Her co-worker, Nadia DiDomenico, who is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Seacliff Manor, had no side effects either.
“For me, the vaccine means hope that we can begin to feel safe again,” she said. “And that we know that hopefully the worst is behind us.”
DiDomenico added that, “As a staff member in retirement living, I am taking every precaution necessary to protect our residents, my fellow staff members and my family.”
The message seems to be the same across the healthcare field. These dedicated front-liners are ‘taking one for the team’ — literally, and their dedication to their co-workers and patients shines through in all cases.
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit released a vaccine rollout announcement on Monday of this week, citing a three-phase vaccination distribution plan issued by the province.
The plan focuses first on vulnerable populations and those who care for them. Each phase is based on an ethical framework developed by the province.
Phase 1 is currently underway across our region, with Phase 2 expected to rollout soon.
“We are asking the community for a bit more patience,” said the release. “You have been amazing so far, but we need you to continue to practice public health measures to help prevent further spread of COVID-19.”
The release went on to say that they expect the vaccines to be available to everyone who wants to be immunized in Phase 3 of the plan, within months, depending on vaccine supply.
At press time, all LTC home residents and staff in Windsor-Essex had received their first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, except for those who are currently sick.
