COVID booster shots being offered at Timmins seniors facility
Under recommendations from the province to give high-risk people a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the St. Mary's Gardens Home for the Aged in Timmins jumped at the opportunity to offer a booster shot to its residents.
Following guidance from the Porcupine Health Unit, facility administrator Karla Gagnon said high-risk retirement homes are one of the areas needing the extra protection.
"We love our seniors and we just want to keep them safe," said Gagnon.
"Anything we can do to do that and prevent any kind of an outbreak, that is our main goal."
Provincial and federal vaccine advisory groups have released reports saying a booster shot is likely necessary for immunocompromised people, with concerns that the strength of the first two doses could be weakening.
Using the Moderna Spikevax shot at its clinic, St. Mary's Gardens residents who opted to get pricked for the third time on Thursday said it's giving them better peace of mind.
"We feel safer having this third shot," said Lorraine Cantin, who attended the clinic with her husband.
"We want to start travelling a little bit and just feel safer on flights and where there are larger crowds. We may still (catch the virus) but we're more protected."
"More secure, more relaxed," chimed in husband Antoine Garwah.
Third vaccinations have been making early rounds across the region, with data from the Porcupine Health Unit saying more than 600 people have taken a booster.
That's in addition to around 80 per cent of the total eligible population in the health unit's coverage area who have taken two shots— including more than 90 per cent of people aged 60 and older.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
A Nigerian chess champion plays the royal game for 60 hours - a new global chess record
A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York City's Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.