Bemidji State University senior 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, a 2016 Northwest Technical College nursing alumna, is enrolled in Bemidji State’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.”