Northwest Technical College alumna Katie Houg, a registered nurse case manager at HealthStar Home Health in Bemidji, Minn., is one of many students to become fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

A practicing RN throughout the Bemidji area, Houg stayed employed throughout the pandemic working with both COVID patients and non-COVID patients. She received the Moderna vaccine in January.

“Keeping my patients safe is and always has been my number one priority,” the Bemidji native said. “As a home nurse, I am interacting with my patients in their homes so it is imperative I keep both myself and the families I serve safe. I had a sore arm after the first shot and felt a bit flu-ish after the second one but it was a small price to pay towards broader community health.”

Houg is enrolled in Bemidji State University’s registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing program and will graduate this spring.

“If you are offered a vaccine, take it,” she said. “We can only get through this together. I have seen first-hand how deadly this virus is and how it has torn our community apart. Getting vaccinated is the first step toward true healing.”

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