COVID-19 vaccine is now in the arms of several long-term care residents across the Rainy River District.
They are the first in the Rainy River District to be vaccinated.
The vaccinations began Wednesday at Rainycrest Long Term Care in Fort Frances.
88-year-old Noreen Robertson was the first in the home’s West Wing to receive the Moderna vaccine. 94-year-old Delsie Cumming was the first in the East Wing to get the vaccine.
Noreen Robertson was one of the first residents at Rainycrest Long Term Care to receive the first dose of Moderna vaccine. Jan. 27, 2021. Photo courtesy Riverside Health Care Facilities
Riverside Health Care Vice-president of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive Julie Loveday says it’s eventually going to lead to restrictions being lifted in the future.
“Right now, we’ve had a lot of restrictions in place to try to keep the home safe. Once immunity can be developed, we can open up more with more of their interaction and visitors, etcetera, those things that are essential in a long-term care home,” says Loveday.
Long-term care residents at the Emo and Rainy River Health Centres are receiving their first doses of the vaccine today.
Not all residents are getting the shot this week.
Loveday says Riverside received a limited number of vaccines but more expected next week.
“The goal was February 5 to have all residents in long-term care facilities throughout the province vaccinated, so the Health Unit has confirmed that we should be receiving our second shipment next week.”
While residents are being inoculated, Loveday says public health measures and other safety protocols at the homes will still need to be followed for a while.
“We still need to mask and do hand hygiene and physical distance, and we need to really closely monitor the traffic through our long-term care facilities. However, it is a step in the right direction.”
Once all residents have received their first dose, staff will get needles in their arms.
