Your Information for COVID-19 Immunization

I have to begin my COVID-19 vaccination story by recognizing and thanking the incredible people and healthcare teams of Peguis First Nation, Fisher River Cree Nation, Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation and the RM of Fisher; they have worked tirelessly and have done so much to keep their communities safe throughout the pandemic. In particular, I need to thank Peguis First Nation for the care they’ve given to me and other RCMP officers by providing us with a vaccine, their generosity and compassion was truly touching to all of us and we are so thankful.

As an Indigenous RCMP officer and Detachment Commander for Fisher Branch, I became eligible for the vaccine fairly early and I’m very happy to say I received my first shot in March at the Peguis Multiplex. The setup and organization there was fantastic. Right when I arrived there was clear direction on where to go and what line to be in, and the staff were so professional and organized, keeping everything moving quickly and safely.

My appointment started with a few questions from the nursing staff and then I asked which vaccine I would be receiving. I was told it was the Moderna vaccine, but I would have been comfortable with any of them. After going through the assessment process it didn’t take long at all for me to get my shot, with the whole appointment only taking about thirty minutes and the only side effect I had was a sore arm.

Getting the vaccine is something I was really excited about, not only because it will help protect me but it also helps to protect my family and the communities I so proudly serve. My wife is a registered nurse so she has had her two doses. Our two older boys have had their first dose too, but we also have a 13-year-old daughter who won’t be eligible for some time.

Between all five of us, COVID has definitely been a challenge. Our eldest son’s work has been difficult, my son and daughter went through a complete school shut down early on in the pandemic, and my wife has been dealing with COVID head-on as a nurse ever since the pandemic started.

For me, a big part of what I’ve been working through as an RCMP officer is general anxiety in the community – you really feel it. First there was a lot of fear about the unknown and where the pandemic was heading, and now there’s a certain level of anxiety about the vaccine which I completely understand. I think one of our jobs as role models in the community is to encourage people to do whatever they can to help keep each other safe, and to talk about how vaccinations will help us do that.

That’s actually the one thing I hope we all take away from this experience when it’s all said and done – that we continue to protect each other. When this is over we need to remember the sacrifices we made to keep our communities safe and appreciate all the little things we take for granted.

Throughout the pandemic, I’ve seen families juggle writing business reports from home while also doing book reports with their kids. Every day, I hear from business owners with stressed voices, struggling to maintain the health and well-being of their business and staff, while their own well-being suffers from the crushing weight.

Like all Manitobans, I can relate to the disruption of routine and stress of not knowing when this pandemic will end. I’ve had to build a home office and get used to the clash of personal and professional during my workday.

The day of my vaccine appointment, I couldn’t wait to get to the pharmacy. I was watching the clock in anticipation, excited because I was about to be part of history.

Once vaccinated, I felt such a sense of relief and accomplishment. A pandemic can lead a person to feel quite powerless, but getting the vaccine made me feel like I had done something tangible to fight back.

We all want to get back to the way things were before COVID-19, and the fastest way forward is getting as many people vaccinated as soon as possible. As Canadians, we have a Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but with rights come responsibilities, and we have a responsibility to each other.

I recently spoke with owners of a family business who had to close their doors due to the pandemic. While they were obviously devastated to shut down a family business that had spanned three generations, they were even more upset knowing their 40 employees could be out of work. Being a business owner is challenging in so many ways, and as a community we have a special role and responsibility to each other and to our staff.

Despite the hardships, or maybe because of them, I’ve been remarkably inspired seeing Manitobans rally behind our local businesses and each other. Please continue to do your part and create a climate where businesses can reopen and welcome you into their stores.

There are so many reasons — economically, socially, and family-wise — to get the vaccine.
So as a community, let’s try to get every single Manitoban vaccinated. The higher the number, the more security, confidence, and assurance we’re going to have to help local businesses open. Let’s not just cross the finish line, let’s triple jump it!

We’re living history right now, so let’s make sure the story ends well.

I was vaccinated at a pharmacy in Winnipeg Beach, which seemed more convenient than driving to the Super-Site clinic in Selkirk. When I first called, all the doses were spoken for but I asked the pharmacist to call me if anyone cancelled an appointment, and I was able to get a shot of AstraZeneca pretty quickly. I didn’t have any side effects.

I think vaccination is very important if we all want to get back to seeing our family. I come from a big Portuguese family and we’re very family-oriented. There’s about 20 of us when we all get together, but that hasn’t happened for over a year. Over Christmas, we had Zoom get-togethers with my parents and siblings—it’s not a nice way to spend Christmas. My niece had planned a wedding for 200 people, but in the end she had 50 people outdoors. My good friend’s father died from COVID and they couldn’t have a large funeral. We would love to have been there to show our support for the family. That was sad. I also regret missing funerals for Winnipeg Beach citizens where I would like to have shown my respects.

Winnipeg Beach is a resort community and we depend on our tourists. As Mayor, I’m hoping we can go ahead this summer with the bands we’ve booked to play in the bandstand. Last summer people were good about social distancing while they enjoyed the beach and the provincial park. Four businesses stayed closed because the owners decided social distancing wasn’t possible—I own Playland Arcade and we stayed closed.

Vaccination is a way to get back to normal life. In our lifetime, we’ve all gotten different vaccines for things like chicken pox, mumps, or shots for travel. Now quite a lot of people have had the vaccines and it’s been proven to be safe. Some people do get some side effects. But as Dr. Roussin says, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

I know some people are scared of needles. The shot is relatively painless though. Getting vaccinated gives us the opportunity to get back to gathering with other people, whether it be around a campfire, going to church, or going to a sporting event. Normally you go to the lake, have a bonfire, roast some marshmallows, and have your neighbours come over. I would like to have our Lions Club meetings in person again.

When COVID is all over, let’s not forget the hard work that our front line workers like doctors and nurses have gone through. The one good thing about this whole thing is that we could spend time with people at home. The pandemic gave us a chance to realize how precious our immediate families are.