Raymonde McIntyre put her friends’ safety even ahead of her own.
The 92-year-old was among the residents at the Augustine House in Ladner to receive the first of two Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shots last week. It was the first time she had been vaccinated in 70 years.
It was back in 1951 when McIntyre had an anaphylactic reaction to an injection. She couldn’t recall what the injection was for but was advised by her doctor to wear a “multiple allergies” medical alert band and had not received a shot in the seven decades since. Still, she checked with her primary physician and decided to proceed with the Pfizer-BioNtech injection.
When a team of Fraser Health immunizers arrived at the Arthur Drive residence to administer the shots, they were alarmed to see McIntyre’s medical alert band.
A call was made to the Vaccination Task Force Call Center seeking for direction from the Infection Disease Specialists. After a 15-minutes phone consultation to review the risks and benefits, decision was made to administer the vaccine to keep her safe.
“As an RN, I had the privilege to keep (Raymonde) under close observation for 30-minutes for allergy reaction,” explained Augustine House director of care Marine Chan. “ I was very touched when she told me that she consented for the vaccine. Knowing the risk she was taking, she had the COVID-19 vaccine to keep others’ safe.
“She has no ill reaction from the vaccine, just a sore arm for a day or so. She will receive her second dose in five weeks per vaccination protocol.”
