She said it was a feeling of "joy and relief".   

The Manager of Public Health Nursing here in Moose Jaw, Heather Segall, was talking about the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Dr. FH Wigmore Regional Hospital. 

The first batch to arrive locally was delivered by the RCMP.  Our local health care team took immediate action, taking their kits to elderly people in and around Moose Jaw, including long-term and personal care home residents in Avonlea and Central Butte. 

Segall said it was an emotional time for the nurses and vaccine recipients alike.  One senior told her getting the shot was "better than Christmas". 

"it was just an atmosphere of celebration and happiness", Segall told us. 

Along with our elders in care homes, Segall says all of our long-term care, emergency, ICU, medical staff, the vaccination team, COVID Assessment Centre teams and home care workers in Moose Jaw, Central Butte and Avonlea also had access to their first shots.  1808 shots were administered in just a few days. 

Joy, relief and, the beginning of the end.