Photo by Chris Rogers
Winona Health Director of Emergency and Urgent Care Services Beth Poulin gave physician Joseph Kaiya a shot of Pfizer s coronavirus vaccine. COVID vaccinations begin in Winona (12/18/2020)
In a potential turning point in the fight against the coronavirus, Dr. Joseph Kaiya became the first person in Winona to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Kaiya was one of 15-20 Winona Health staff who rolled up their sleeves on Friday. Winona Health is a hub for local distribution of the Pfizer vaccine because the hospital has the ultra-cold freezers needed to store it, and the health system plans to offer shots to all of its front-line hospital staff, nursing home residents, and nursing home staff next week. Other local nursing homes, ambulance crews, and COVID testing staff are expected to receive shots of the Moderna vaccine starting the week of December 28.