Two west Vancouver Island First Nations have begun their COVID-19 vaccination drive after the arrival of the Moderna vaccine in their communities.
The COVID-19-battered Ehattesaht Chinehkint First Nations (ECFN) near Zeballos and the Kyuquot/Checleseht First Nations (KCFN) on the IslandB次元官网网址檚 northwest corner are among eight select B.C. First Nations to have received the vaccines.
Ehhattesht started a two-day vaccination drive on Jan. 4 for its 100-member community in Ehatis reserve.
The remote First Nation locked down after a 42-day outbreak saw 28 members testing positive in December. The lockdown was lifted between Christmas and New YearB次元官网网址檚 after the outbreak was contained.
B次元官网网址淲e were informed on the 28th (of December) that vaccines were in transit and we started to plan the roll out with our membership right away. It was decided that chief and council needed to go first to show leadership and demonstrate the importance of the vaccine,B次元官网网址� said band manager and COVID-19 response coordinator Darlene Smith.
Chief Simon John said band members are B次元官网网址渘ervousB次元官网网址� about taking the vaccines, which is why the leadership stepped up to receive the first doses.
B次元官网网址淔or me this feels a bit historic,B次元官网网址� said John. B次元官网网址淚 know First Nations in remote communities have been asking to be first for a long time and I think this gives us some comfort since we are a long way from a hospital.B次元官网网址�
The vaccines will be administered by two nurses in the nationB次元官网网址檚 health wing and a third nurse will be monitoring the vaccine recipients. A nurse navigator will also go door-to-door in the community to address membersB次元官网网址� concerns, Smith says.
KCFN, meanwhile will begin its vaccination drive Wednesday, Jan. 6 and continue until Friday Jan.8.
Steinar Vage, the bandB次元官网网址檚 director of community services said Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) nurses will bring in the vaccines and they will be administered to KCFN members in Houpsitas. KCFN has an estimated population of 164 members living on reserve.
B次元官网网址淲e have people that are concerned and also those who are excited about the vaccines,B次元官网网址� said Vage.
Although he did not disclose the number of doses KCFN received, he said they are hoping to get as many people vaccinated as possible.
NTC, which represents 14 First Nations, including Ehhattesaht and KCFN, is urging its members to take the latest Health Canada-approved Moderna vaccine when it becomes available.
In a statement, NTC leadership tells its membership that the vaccines have both gone through rigorous testing and approval processes, only being approved by Health Canada once deemed safe and effective.
B次元官网网址淲e encourage anyone over the age of 18, not breastfeeding, and not allergic to any of the ingredients, to take the vaccine when it becomes available in your community.B次元官网网址�
The First Nations are receiving the Moderna vaccine, because the first approved COVID-19 vaccines in Canada B次元官网网址� the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine B次元官网网址� requires subfreezing temperatures for storage (-70) challenging transportation and storage logistics to remote communities.
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