Rhoda Wood was the first in the tri-communities to receive the vaccine. (submitted photo/Jim Searson)

By Derek Cornet

vaccinations begin

Moderna inoculations begin in La Ronge

Jan 8, 2021 | 3:08 PM

Rhoda Wood, a registered nurse at the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Jeannie Bird Clinic, was the first resident of the tri-communities to receive the Moderna vaccine Friday.

“I encourage other health care workers to get it,” she told larongeNOW. “We’ve got to set an example for the population and it is for the good of the population and the world as a whole.”

Vaccinations are occurring throughout the day at Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre and other locations. The delivery was picked up last night at the La Ronge Airport and Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said health care teams on and off-reserve are prepared to inoculate priority populations.

The first in line to receive the vaccine are health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, as well as personal care home residents and staff.

“It makes me hopeful,” Wood said about receiving the vaccine. “Hopefully soon we’ll get some herd immunity, so I am hopeful this pandemic won’t last for too much longer.”

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Wood has been a registered nurse since 2007 and has served as a COVID nurse at the Jeannie Bird Clinic since March 2020. She’s responsible for case management, referrals and coordination and she expressed gratitude to tri-community leadership for initiating a letter of concern to the Ministry of Health earlier this week.

Cook-Searson explained it has been a great day to witness the Moderna vaccine rolled out to northerners. She said health professionals, as well as residents at Elder Catherine Charles Long-Term Care Home and Wawahtewikumihk Group Home will receive inoculations today. Inoculations are also occurring between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the La Ronge Health Centre.

The vaccine arrived in Stanley Mission and Sucker River today with health care staff and Elders being the targeted populations for inoculations.

“It’s a really nice feeling to be able to have the vaccine here and seeing it being administered to our Elders and the health care workers,” Cook-Searson said. “We are very grateful to have the Moderna vaccine here.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno