Care aide gets first vaccine in Kelowna
The first Kelowna recipient of a COVID19 vaccination shot, a care aide, says she can now do her job in a safer manner.
Charmane Lazzarotto received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Tuesday along with other long-term care staff and physicians.
“As a health care aide, I care for vulnerable people every day and knowing I can protect them by preventing the spread of COVID-19 is an incredible feeling," Lazzarotto said in a news release from Interior Health.
“I am so happy to be safer, feel safer, and be part of history as we fight COVID19,” she said.
Care aides have been the health employees must vulnerable to COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic earlier this year.
A total of 44,776 self-identified health care workers in B.C. have tested positive for COVID-19. That number is equivalent to 8% of all health care workers in the province, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control says.
Care aides account for almost one-quarter of all health care workers who’ve been infected, with registered nurses making up 6% and licensed practical nurses accounting for 6%.
As vaccine shipments arrive each week, Interior Health plans on expanding clinics for health care workers.
“Having this vaccine available will help protect the most vulnerable loved ones in our lives and I encourage everyone to get (a shot),” said Kelsey Medhurt, the first vaccine recipient in Kamloops.
The rollout of the vaccine will be a “gradual process,” Interior Health says, urging everyone to continue to follow COVID-19 protocols such as observing physical distancing, sticking to your bubble, and handwashing frequently.
The first priority groups for the vaccine according to the provincial government website will be: longterm care and assisted living staff and residents; health-care facility staff in setting like intensive care workers and emergency depart
ments; Indigenous people living in rural or remote communities; homeless people; and people over 80.
In the spring, when more vaccines becomes available, top priority will be given to older people under age 80, in five-year groups; other health-care workers, police, firefighters and paramedics, grocery store employees, teachers and school staff; transportation workers, workers in manufacturing.