Oakville MP visits St Catharines COVID-19 clinic

The Seymour-Hannah COVID-19 clinic in St Catharines got a special guest visitor yesterday (July 19).

Oakville MP Anita Anand, the federal Minister of Public Services and Procurement, got an opportunity to stop into the clinic, which has now administered over 230,000 vaccinations, the most of any clinic in the Niagara Region.

And what would be the connection here? Just this – Anand is the person responsible for getting the vaccines into Canada.

In normal times, Anand’s portfolio would be a low-key one. During a pandemic, however, it has thrust the Oakville MP into the national spotlight.

The first Canadian of Hindu background to become a federal minister, Anand is responsible for bringing tens of millions of vaccines into the country.

While Canada stutter-stepped at the beginning of the vaccinations, it was simply because the country has no home-grown vaccine manufacturers. So it was left to Anand to bring them in from elsewhere.

With 68.8 per cent of the population having received their first shot and 43.7 per cent of the population fully vaccinated, Canada has gone from a country behind the eight-ball to a world leader in full vaccinations. And while every community is trying to double-vax as many residents as possible, they are now able to do so because of Anand.

For her part, Anand seemed genuinely impressed with the results at Seymour-Hannah yesterday.

“I was very inspired by the story of community, resilience and hope shared by #TeamNiagara at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment centre,” she posted on Facebook.

“This amazing team of healthcare providers are administering thousands of vaccines every day,” she added.

St Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik had an opportunity to join to visiting MPs (Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey and St Catharines’ MP Chris Bittle were also on hand) at Seymour-Hannah.

“Great to meet with Minister Anita Anand at our Centre of Hope, the Niagara Health vaccination site at Seymour-Hannah,” he said on Facebook.

“We are grateful to have vaccinated over 230,000 at this site thanks to the supply and work of the staff and volunteers at this site.”

Bittle also seemed impressed with his first clinic visit, posting on Facebook, “I was in absolute awe to finally go to Seymour-Hannah and see the incredible work Niagara Health has done and to thank all staff and volunteers who are bringing hope to Niagara.”

He continued: “To be there with Anita Anand who has led our vaccine procurement strategy was especially amazing.”

(Photo of Walter Sendzik and Anita Anand courtesy of Sendzik’s Facebook)