More people received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Central Okanagan thanks to a pop-up clinic hosted by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).
The clinic first opened up on Wednesday (April 27) at the Coast Capri Hotel and will be in town until Thursday (April 29). The goal is to give vaccine access to Indigenous residents who may have missed vaccination clinics in their home communities or live away from their community.
鈥淩eally, this is an additional avenue for Indigenous residents who are living away from home,鈥� FNHA regional manager Casey Neathway said.
鈥淚nterior Health also makes vaccines available through their provincial program for all Indigenous folks 18 years and older. We also hosted clinics within First Nations communities.
鈥淏etween all those avenues, we鈥檙e feeling pretty good about the access to vaccines for Indigenous residents.鈥�
Neathway added that First Nations communities have managed the spread of the virus in their communities, keeping people safe.
鈥淔irst Nations communities have done a fantastic job of protecting their members and that鈥檚 everything from establishing COVID safety routines to setting up vaccine clinics as soon as those vaccines were available,鈥� he said.
鈥淎nd I think we鈥檙e seeing a really positive trend in terms of the number of positive COVID cases that are happening in those communities.鈥�
The clinic鈥檚 goal may be to vaccinate Indigenous residents away from their home communities, but Neathway added they aren鈥檛 turning anyone away.
An example is a resident who drove from Hedley to 麻豆精选 to receive her first dose.
鈥淚鈥檓 Mohawk, but I work for the Upper Similkameen Indian Band. I missed the vaccine clinic then due to health reasons, but I鈥檓 happy to be here now,鈥� Michelle Jacobs said.
鈥淚t took two hours to get here, but it鈥檚 worth it.鈥�
Kelly Fosbery from Westbank First Nation said she鈥檚 grateful to receive the vaccine and for her community鈥檚 management of the virus.
鈥淥ur Chief and council, they鈥檝e handled it all very well. They had a vaccine clinic that we missed, but it鈥檚 going pretty well. People are looking out for each other,鈥� she said.
She also wanted to encourage people to get vaccinated as soon as they can.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting vaccinated to protect our family and our community, and it鈥檚 exciting to get rid of some of that anxiety around COVID.鈥�
The clinic will be offering vaccines until Thursday (April 29). To register for a timeslot, email Sue Storey at susan.storey@fnha.ca or call 236-484-4002.
READ MORE: Brighter days coming in May for B.C.鈥檚 long COVID-19 battle
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