'Everybody was so happy and grateful': Saskatoon nurse shares her experience of delivering vaccines
Gail Kizlyk says vaccine selfies and social media posts are part of awareness campaign
As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues in Saskatchewan, some people are sharing their vaccine joy on social media.
Pictures of parents getting the vaccine and nurses excited to be giving it are showing up in people's feeds.
Gail Kizlyk, a nurse in Saskatoon, said she is over the moon to be able to provide the vaccine to others.
"Going and giving the vaccines to people just felt amazing," she said.
"I came [home] at the end of the day and just felt energized to be able to be contributing to giving the vaccine."
On Monday I was trained and signed off as a covid vaccinator and was able to give members of the public the vaccine. It was a great day that filled me with hope and I really enjoyed doing it! <br>Hope to see you there 😁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/getvaccinatedsk?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#getvaccinatedsk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/skpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#skpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sciencewins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sciencewins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/proudrn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#proudrn</a>
—@gail_kizlykKizlyk is usually a neonatal intensive care unit nurse, but had time to be trained in vaccine delivery. She said she joked to her patients that her usual patients — babies — cry a lot more when they get their needles.
People getting their vaccine "were happy to see people and talk to people. It's been hard on them having to isolate, as it's been on all of us ... everybody was so happy and grateful."
So much joy at our house tonight after Mom received her vaccine. Being an oxygen user it will bring piece of mind for her and for us. Very impressed with <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskHealth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaskHealth</a> for running both a very efficient delivery and caring patient experience. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyou?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thankyou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/grateful?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#grateful</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Relief?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Relief</a>
—@TylerMc27454441The best Monday I’ve had in a while ... a little glimmer of hope in what has felt like the longest year ever ✨💉 So much gratitude to the scientists, coordinators, transport & health care teams, & brilliant minds that are developing & delivering this vaccine <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GetVaccinatedSK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GetVaccinatedSK</a> <a href="https://t.co/pEpXZvT6mO">pic.twitter.com/pEpXZvT6mO</a>
—@KatelinCuthillBut it's not all sunshine and rainbows for everyone. In a recent CBC article, experts debated the value of vaccine selfies. Some said it was an insensitive reminder to those in the medical community — particularly in rural areas — that they had not yet received the shot, while some saw it as normalizing the experience.
For Kizlyk, the selfies and social media posts are just part of the awareness campaign.
"[It's] similar to elections. You get out there and you get on social media," she said.
"The root behind vaccination is we need herd immunity ... The intention is not to make people feel bad at all, it's to encourage others. 'Hey, I got the vaccine, you should too.'"
After a week of variant cases growing quickly in Regina, there was nothing better than seeing this picture from my parents last night! Way to go <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskHealth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaskHealth</a> for an efficient and well run drive thru clinic. Parents and in-laws both with 1st doses done, what a relief for adult kids <a href="https://t.co/fI8Obkd5vG">pic.twitter.com/fI8Obkd5vG</a>
—@mackozunWith files from Mark Gollom