‘I want to see my family again’: Lambton woman receives cross border COVID-19 vaccine

Tara Jeffrey It may have been the shortest day of the year, but it was one that Julie McKenney-Dunn won’t forget. “I got kind of emotional,” said the St.

Tara Jeffrey

It may have been the shortest day of the year, but it was one that Julie McKenney-Dunn won’t forget.

“I got kind of emotional,” said the St. Clair Township woman, who works as a registered nurse across the border in Port Huron, Michigan, and was among the first group of frontline workers at McLaren Hospital to receive the COVID-19 vaccine — and likely one of the only Lambton County residents — rolling up her sleeve at the dawn of the winter solstice, a time meant to usher in hope and light.

“I miss my parents,” said the oncology nurse of 27 years. “I want to see my family again.”

McKenney-Dunn said she jumped at the chance to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — OK’d by the U.S. government for emergency distribution earlier this month and delivered to St. Clair County Michigan late Thursday. She’ll receive her second shot in three weeks.

“I think my flu shot hurt more than this,” she recalled, adding that she’s had no pain, symptoms or side affects. She proudly shared a photo of the big moment on her social media.

“I think it’s good for people to see someone they know getting it.

“We have to do our part.”

On this side of the border, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was authorized by Health Canada earlier this month, and Lambton Public Health says it will rollout a plan once it arrives.

“We may need to up staff, we may need to connect with other organizations. It will be very much a team effort,” Medical officer of health Dr. Sudit Ranade said earlier this month.

The first priority will likely be long-term care residents and those who work with them, with the vaccine administered at the senior homes, he said.

McKenney-Dunn said it’s been a hectic few months working the front lines as the pandemic rages on across the border. As of this week, St. Clair County, Michigan had reached more than 6,500 total cases and 128 deaths.

“It’s busy. I’ve been working extra shifts to help out,” said the mom of three grown children. “I don’t do anything else — just work and come home — I see my kids and that’s it.”

According to the Port Huron Times Herald, about 80% of staff at McLaren Health Care hospitals, outpatient clinics and other subsidiaries said they were willing to receive the vaccine.

“For the most part, everyone’s excited about it,” she said. “It’s a good thing.”