Trudeau gives Kamloops healthcare worker a shoutout on national TV | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Trudeau gives Kamloops healthcare worker a shoutout on national TV

Brienna Wells is a leader locally and online after a viral video instructed how best to conduct COVID-19 tests. Now she's received a nod from the prime minister.
Image Credit: YOUTUBE/Brienna Wells

A Kamloops healthcare worker was acknowledge by the prime minister today during a press conference.

Brienna Wells, a public health nurse in Kamloops, recently went viral on TikTok for her video instructing how to conduct COVID-19 tests painlessly.

Today, Feb. 26, Prime Minister Trudeau thanked her and other healthcare workers for their work.

"Take Brienna from Kamloops. Brienna is a frontline nurse who sent me an email recently, and I'm glad she did. Because to you, Brienna, and to all the doctors and nurses and healthcare staff, I want to say this: thank you. Everyday you're making sure your fellow Canadians get tested, get vaccinated, stay safe. You are our heroes," the prime minister said in the press briefing that aired nationally on television and was streamed on social media platforms.

READ MORE: Kamloops's COVID-swab 'champion' nurse sharing tips on social media

"I've been so busy giving out vaccines today, I haven't had time to think about it. But it feels surreal. My phone's been buzzing all morning," Wells said during her break between vaccinations at a long-term care centre in Kamloops.

Wells said she reached to Trudeau via email to thank him for putting the health of Canadians first in the continued pandemic. When she received a response that said her message was "well received and appreciated," she didn't expect he'd actually read it.

She is happy to be acknowledged, but Wells says she still feels like just one person in a large team. Mostly, she's thankful for her colleagues' work and she's glad to be helping keep the public healthy.

READ MORE: Health Canada approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine

Although she leads the health region's COVID-19 testing team, Wells says she's now been spending about 70% of her time administering vaccines to frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable populations.

In his statement, Trudeau mentioned the growing demand for healthcare professionals and requests from provincial health authorities to have retired nurses and midwives answer the call.

Wells is thankful to see retired nurses arriving to help deliver vaccines, and offer their wisdom.

She said their arrival and the influx of vaccines has shifted the work environment.

"It's been great to see retired nurses coming in. They offer so much wisdom and experience. It's hard work, but it's a great place to be and really positive at work right now," Wells said. "Now that we're not just testing, but we're administering vaccines, it's like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel."


To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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