The first baby born in 2021 at Norton Sound Regional Hospital arrived into the world almost a month early.
Norton Sound Health Corporation announced that RosaLynn Roxie Reamer was born shortly after 11pm on January 6
th. According to the baby girl’s parents, Sarah Iyapana and Wayne Reamer of Nome, RosaLynn was supposed to be due at the end of the month, Jan. 31
st.
Despite the early arrival, she was born at six pounds, three ounces, and is 18.5 inches long.
The littlest Reamer is now the only winter baby in the family which includes two other young children. RosaLynn’s grandparents are Anita Soolook, Max Iyapana Sr., Earl Reamer, and Thelma Evan.
Regional health providers report that COVID-19 vaccines are making their way to villages in the Norton Sound region, with health clinic workers in Stebbins and Brevig Mission being among the first to get the shot.
Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC) said it has teams flying out to do initial vaccination rounds in each of the 15 communities in its service area. Health consortium spokesperson Reba Lean said village clinic workers, first responders, critical infrastructure workers, and Elders were among the first people vaccinated. In most communities, Lean said that’s about 10% of a village’s population.
Winter storms were battering down most of the Seward Peninsula and Eastern Norton Sound on Tuesday. But weather permitting, NSHC said it plans to do initial vaccinations in each village over the next week and a half.