THUNDER BAY – Rita Traer was among the first people in line Wednesday morning to get her COVID-19 vaccine at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s vaccine clinic at the CLE.
It didn’t take much convincing for the 89-year-old, after her family endured a pair of COVID-related tragedies.
“I lost somebody dear to me last week. It was just awful. It was not just one people, but two that died from it. One was my brother and his son-in-law,” Traer said, after receiving her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
“They died of the virus and they were all healthy. They just hit somebody that had it and they got it and they died. That is a sad story, let me tell you. It was an awful week for our family.”
Traer said there was no hesitation in her mind when she learned on Monday the health unit would begin rolling out the vaccine to the general public, starting with anyone 85 and older.
Spots filled up quickly, but Traer’s family made sure she got one.
“I just had to come and get it done. It was the best thing for me to do. Like I say, if people find out how awful it is, they would get this done.”
James Gilmore, 88, who was escorted to the vaccine site by his daughter, Nancy Colonego, said it was a beautiful day, knowing he was one step closer to being vaccinated against COVID-19, which has killed 31 people in the Thunder Bay District, most of them seniors.
“It was wonderful and I never felt nothing,” he said.
“I didn’t think I’d come this early, I thought I’d come later on, but I was happy to come at this time and have it done.”
Gilmore said the public shouldn’t hesitate if their turn to get vaccinated comes.
“I’d tell them to get it,” he said. “I’d tell them right away to get it.”
His daughter was equally thrilled for her father, noting she’d already had the vaccine because she regularly visits her uncle in a long-term care facility in Thunder Bay.
“I had no qualms about getting the vaccine. I think it’s an excellent thing that has come out and it’s a chance for us to get back to somewhat of a normal existence,” she said.
Colonego said she was also glad the health unit was able to get an early start vaccinating her father’s generation, the province initially indicating it wanted to start vaccinating people 80 and above on March 22.
“I was shocked when I opened up my Facebook and saw that it was ready almost two weeks earlier. I was so excited. I booked his appointment right away. I booked it online.”
Appointments filled up within a couple of hours for the clinics, which will continue on Thursday and Friday. The health unit said they will be hosting future clinics later in the month.
