The atmosphere is relaxed and optimistic as 琉璃神社鈥檚 seniors rolled up their sleeves to get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The vaccination clinic opened up on March 15 at Trinity Church, where about 30 stations were set up for residents to receive their shots.
Interior Health (IH) director of primary care Deborah Preston said people have remained calm as they arrived at the clinic, with many seniors saying they were happy to finally be vaccinated.
鈥�(There鈥檚) lots of optimism, people are happy to get the shot. I鈥檝e heard there鈥檚 a few tears of hope,鈥� she said.
Since Monday, Preston said they have seen around 600 people receive their first dose, with each station seeing about eight to 10 people an hour.
She said IH continues to prepare to open more clinics to accommodate more locations.
鈥淲e have some staff training so we can have them support us as we increase our clinics,鈥� Preston said.
鈥淲e鈥檒l have this clinic here at Trinity and we will be having clinics in West 琉璃神社 starting next week and in Lake Country for one day a week.鈥�
Currently, IH is vaccinating Indigenous people 65 years or older, Indigenous elders, as well as seniors born in or before 1931.
On March 15, seniors 84 years or older were able to book and on March 16, seniors 83 years or older have started booking appointments.
Several seniors who received their vaccine on Tuesday spoke up, saying it was exciting and that it was a good experience.
鈥淭he nurse was very knowledgeable and explained (the process) extremely well鈥t wasn鈥檛 painful so altogether it was good,鈥� one woman said.
Pamela Forsythe said she was very grateful to have received the vaccine despite her being from a younger age group. Arm-in-arm she walked with her 101-year-old mother, Mary Cole-Minett, to receive their vaccines.
鈥淚 look after my 101-year-old mother in our own home, and they were able to give me the shot at the same time (as her) which was great,鈥� she said.
Another woman said she was excited for her mother to get vaccinated as this means the end of the crisis is coming.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the beginning of the end, and it feels like it鈥檚 a good path.鈥�
Preston said she wants to encourage those who are eligible to book an appointment and to get vaccinated as soon as they are able.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something we can all do to help protect our most vulnerable and ourselves and members of our community,鈥� she said.
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