First BC healthcare workers vaccinated against COVID-19
The first healthcare workers in BC received their COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday.
The shots were administered at two clinics with secret locations to guard against tampering, one in Vancouver and the other in the Fraser Health region.
BC Premier John Horgan shared an image of the first person in BC to get the shot. Her name is Nisha Yunus and she’s worked at the same long-term care facility for 40 years.
Meet Nisha Yunus. She’s spent over 40 years caring for seniors at the same long-term care facility.
Today, Nisha is the first in BC to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
She’s not alone. Learn more about we’ll help British Columbians get vaccinated: https://t.co/EvbP1h7zUf pic.twitter.com/CBbIPse9H4
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) December 16, 2020
“I am so grateful. It feels like a dream came true. It is both a privilege and an honour to receive the first COVID-19 vaccine in British Columbia,” Yunus said in a news release.
“I have seen first-hand what COVID-19 does to families, and I am hopeful we are getting closer to finally reaching the end of this pandemic, so people can reunite safely with their loved ones and put this behind us.”
The first person to receive the vaccine in Fraser Health was Linda Latour, a health-care assistant who supports seniors.
Health care employees are getting the first doses of COVID vaccine in Fraser Health. Watch here: pic.twitter.com/eaDgEiLH3I
— Fraser Health (@Fraserhealth) December 16, 2020
Health Minister Adrian Dix noted this day is the start of BC’s months-long vaccination program.
“This is a hopeful day for all of us in B.C.,” he said. “Among the very first people to receive it are those who care for and support B.C.’s seniors – by getting immunized, they are helping to protect those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and helping us all get one step closer to ending this pandemic.”
Healthcare workers in long-term care homes and those tending to COVID-19 patients are the first in line, followed by long-term care residents and other priority groups including seniors, other frontline workers, and people living in remote Indigenous communities.
- See also:
Nearly 4,000 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine arrived in BC Sunday, and they need to be stored at -70°C until shortly before injection. Next week, BC officials plan to deliver new shipments of vaccine to all five health authorities.
Follow Channels and Categories