As the first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine reached Algoma, Ontario Finnish Resthome resident Larry Grekula received the first dose of the vaccine shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday.
A resident since 2006 and the chair of the residents council, Grekula said "it feels good to be a part of making history."
"The vaccine means happiness," Grekula also said in a prepared statement. "I am happy to get it and it is a start for the country to get back to normal."
The first shipment of the vaccine has been allotted to residents of long-term care homes as a priority in Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination program.
“The arrival of the vaccine is great news for our community, and helps us build another strong layer of protection around our long-term care residents,” said Dr. Jennifer Loo, Medical Officer of Health for Algoma Public Health, in a release. “I want to thank all the partners who are working together to make this happen, and who continue to make preparations for broader community immunization in Algoma, once vaccines are available.”
Algoma Public Health is working with long-term care homes in the region to provide doses to over 1,000 residents over the next two weeks.
The vaccine is given in two doses, 28 days apart.