‘It’s a huge relief ’: vaccines get cheers at seniors’ homes
Much-anticipated deliveries this week brought new hope to residents and families for an end to months of suffering and isolation
Cheers and applause met the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines at local seniors’ homes when Hamilton began delivering the injections to long-term-care and retirement homes this week.
The city launched a mobile clinic pilot on Sunday that saw the Pfizer vaccine, which must be stored in extreme cold, brought to long-term-care and “highrisk” retirement homes.
Clarke Miller, whose wife is a resident at Idlewyld Manor — the mobile clinic’s first stop — was “elated” at the news.
“For the first time since this whole thing started, I had a sense of hopefulness that maybe this is going to be the thin edge of the sword that’s going to get us out of this mess,” he said.
A video released by the Mountview facility showed the home’s first resident receiving the injection to cheers and clapping.
As essential caregivers, Miller and his daughter also received the vaccine at the Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) clinic this month.
Other than soreness at the injection site and muscle pain throughout his body for a couple of days after the injection, Miller said he had no side effects. He’s scheduled to get his second dose on Jan. 27.
So far, the mobile clinic has travelled to Idlewyld Manor, St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke, Hamilton Continuing Care, Macassa Lodge, Shalom Village, and
most recently, Wentworth Heights, according to the city. On Thursday, the vaccines are headed to Arbour Creek Care Centre, and crucially, Grace Villa — the site of the city’s worst outbreak.
Dr. Elizabeth Richardson said in a media update that, as of Wednesday morning, about 800 people were vaccinated through the mobile clinic and a further 7,500 at the stationary HHS clinic.
While the city’s goal is to vaccinate 4,900 residents in 37 seniors’ homes with the mobile clinic by Jan. 18, Richardson said she said it would depend on vaccine supply and the “logistics
of going into the homes and them being ready to receive us.”
Richardson noted she expects the city to be able to use the Moderna vaccine, which does not require deep-cold storage, “before the end of next week.”
Shalom Village residents received the vaccine on Tuesday.
“I’m delighted. It’s a huge relief she got the vaccine,” said Amy Kaler, whose mother is a Shalom resident. The University of Alberta professor was pleased at the speed in which it happened.
“Within a matter of a few days we went from ‘Hamilton’s not going to be receiving the vaccine’ to ‘Your mum was getting her vaccine tomorrow,’ ” she said. “It was very gratifying.”
In a town hall Wednesday,
Shalom Village’s CEO said 129 residents were vaccinated Tuesday. That represents 87 per cent of the facility’s residents, said CEO Ken Callaghan.
The home’s 11 residents with active COVID-19 cases were not vaccinated.
He said residents would receive their second dose in 21 days, and that residents who didn’t receive their first dose on Tuesday would receive it then. More than 55 per cent of staff have been vaccinated so far, he added.
Canada is “on track” to receive more than a million doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by the month’s end, said the federal Minister of Seniors in a newsletter on Wednesday.
“We anticipate that by September, we’ll have enough doses to vaccinate everyone who is approved to receive the vaccine or for whom the vaccine is recommended,” Minister Deb Schulte said.
On Tuesday, Ontario’s Minister of Health said the province’s vaccination plans are focused on long-term-care residents, their essential caregivers and staff.
“We are building that iron ring around the long-termcare homes,” said Minister Christine Elliott.
Maria Iqbal’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report on stories focused on aging issues. Reach her via email: miqbal@thespec.com.