Photo Courtesy Northern Health

By Caden Fanshaw

VACCINE

Nak’azdli Whut’en FN excited for COVID vaccine set to arrive soon

Jan 6, 2021 | 4:32 PM

FORT ST. JAMES – As Canada continues to receive more shipments of COVID-19 vaccines, the BC government is rolling out it’s plan for who is getting vaccinated first.

The first phase of vaccinations currently underway has high-risk frontline workers at the top of the list, along with remote First Nations communities.

The second phase of the vaccine rollout expected to be complete by the end of March has the following groups able to get the shot if they choose.

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• Community-based seniors, age 80 and above; Indigenous seniors, age 65 and above
• People experiencing homelessness and/or using shelters
• Provincial correctional facilities
• Adults in group homes or mental health residential care.
• Long term home support recipients and staff
• Hospital staff, community GPs and medical specialists
• Other Indigenous communities not vaccinated in first priority group

That second phase includes the Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation, ground zero for a mass outbreak of COVID-19 prior to Christmas just starting to get under control.

“I am so excited for this vaccine to come,” says Chief Aileen Prince. “We don’t have a date yet, we know our health centre has been actively been preparing for it, we are prepared for when it arrives.”

Prince says one of the biggest impacts has been forcing the cancellation of so many cultural traditions, and a way to grieve for those who have lost loved ones recently.

“There has always been that light at the end of the tunnel but it is getting a lot brighter,” says Prince.

BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry saying that logistics could prove to be difficult to get the vaccine into many of the remote First Nations communities, although those closer to major centres will be easier to access.

Health Canad has approved two vaccines for use in Canada including the Pfizer-Biontech and the Moderna vaccines.

The benefits to Moderna is that the contents do not have to be stored at extremely cold temperatures unlike the Pfizer vaccine.