Health Sciences North in Sudbury, the largest hospital in Northern Ontario, is in the process of providing vaccines against COVID-19 to the people who work there.
"Over the coming weeks, everyone at HSN including all staff, physicians, learners, and volunteers, will have the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine," said a Feb. 25 news release from HSN.
"On Wednesday, a total of 354 vaccines were administered to those in the highest priority group which includes members of HSN’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre, COVID-19 Laboratory, the Intensive Care Unit, Respiratory Care Unit, Emergency Department and other teams from across the organization," said the release.
Right before administering the first vaccine, Dr. Katie Richardson spoke from the heart about the hope this historic gesture gives her, said the release.
“The healthcare providers that we vaccinate today have worked so hard and have sacrificed so much in the last year. We are hopeful that today is the beginning of a change," said Richardson.
HSN wishes to extend thanks to all healthcare workers that have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. This is a tremendous milestone in the COVID-19 journey and a time that hopefully signals a light at the end of the tunnel in this pandemic, said the release.
It was also revealed that the COVID-19 outbreak for the Hallways J and K of the South Tower on the 6th Floor, that was originally declared on Feb. 6, was declared over on Feb. 22.
"HSN wishes to thank all employees and medical staff who worked on Six South as well as colleagues with HSN’s Infection Prevention and Control, Occupational Health and Safety, Housekeeping and Laboratory teams, and colleagues from Public Health Sudbury and Districts for their efforts in responding to this outbreak. While this outbreak is over, additional infection, prevention and control measures will remain in place on the unit including strict hand hygiene, heightened infection surveillance, additional use of personal protective equipment, laboratory testing and enhanced cleaning and disinfection," said the statement from the hospital.
Also, as of noon on Feb. 25, HSN has a total of four patients admitted who have tested positive for COVID-19 with none of those patients in the ICU. Additionally, four other patients admitted to HSN are currently being tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results, said the hospital daily COVID update page.
