Vaccines, vaccines - get ‘em while they’re cold.
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines were made available to the general public in Flin Flon last week, with residents who meet provincial eligibility criteria able to get their first shot.
Doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are now available at locations in Creighton and (at certain times) in Flin Flon, while the AstraZeneca-COVISHIELD vaccine is also available locally. Each vaccine will be given out on an appointment only basis according to either Manitoba or Saskatchewan eligibility criteria, with priority and preferences given due to age, health status, work status and other conditions.
The first of two scheduled pop-up vaccination clinics in Flin Flon took place at the Flin Flon Community Hall March 19.
Dave Parsuik and his father Joe are now one of the first vaccinated father-son duos in town. Dave, the owner and operator of Bayside Resort in Denare Beach, got his first dose at the Creighton Provincial Building March 18. Joe got his first dose at the Flin Flon Community Hall pop-up clinic a day later, with his son there to help him get to and from the clinic.
“It hasn’t bothered me one bit,” said Dave, one day after getting his dose.
“I got the flu shot last fall and it was the same thing. They were excellent there.”
Dave spoke with The Reminder while waiting for his father’s shot, saying that he got an appointment after his wife saw an announcement for vaccinations on Facebook. At 71 years old, Dave met Saskatchewan’s minimum age requirement for vaccinations.
“She phoned in right away and I got in right away for it,” he said.
“I got in quick and I was quite happy.”
Dave estimates it’ll be about four months before he receives his second dose, making him fully vaccinated from COVID-19 at some point in mid-July. While he’s squeamish about needles, he said he had no issue at all with his vaccination.
“I had no ill effects at all from it, none whatsoever. To be honest, didn’t even feel the needle going in - and I’m one that does not like needles. I hate needles with a passion but they were still great,” he said.
Father Joe, who got his dose Friday afternoon, was one of the first members of the general public in Flin Flon to get his shot. Until the March 19 pop-up clinic, doses of COVID-19 vaccine had only been given to residents at local seniors’ homes or qualified health workers. Joe was brought out of the community hall in a wheelchair by an attendant, but got up and walked to the truck with his son after the dose, seemingly in high spirits.
When asked about his dose, Joe had little to say except that he was happy he got his shot. When asked if he’d been waiting to get his dose, Joe replied, “Yeah - all day!”
A second pop-up clinic is scheduled to be held at the community hall March 26. As of press time, all Manitobans over age 65 and First Nations people aged 45 or older are currently eligible to be vaccinated at provincial supersites and pop-up clinics. Others, including people working in health care or who are part of priority groups including people with certain chronic health conditions, can also make vaccination appointments. A full list of criteria can be found at protectmb.ca.
In Saskatchewan, all people over age 62 can book appointments for vaccines, but in the Northern Administrative District - which covers Creighton, Denare Beach and all other Saskatchewan communities near Flin Flon - people between ages 50 and 69 can also book their shot.
AstraZeneca
Meanwhile, a select number of Manitoba pharmacies have begun to offer the AstraZeneca-COVISHIELD vaccine, including Flin Flon’s Pharmasave.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is currently available to Manitobans in two priority groups, which are different from the priority groups for Manitoba supersites and pop-up clinics. Appointments can be made for people ages 50-64, as well as First Nations people ages 30-64, to receive a first dose of the AstraZeneca shot. People with certain medical issues can also be prioritized.
Under current provincial and federal authorizations, the AstraZeneca vaccine can only be given to patients under the age of 64. In Flin Flon, the vaccines themselves will be given out of the Flin Flon Clinic building across from Flin Flon General Hospital.
As news of the provincial pharmacy vaccine program broke around the same time as the announcement of pop-up clinics, some people have been confused over the criteria for each shot as different eligibility rules are in place.
Doses at the Pharmasave began last week and will continue as supplies last - applications can be made online using the Pharmasave Flin Flon MedMe page and appointments will be made following applications. Appointments cannot be booked by calling the pharmacy.
