The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) expects all First Nations communities to be vaccinated by the end of March despite the vaccine shortage.
To date, 90 out of 203 First Nations communities in BC have received their first dose of vaccines.
“Our biggest challenge was the amount of vaccine,” said Acting Chief Medical Officer of the FNHA, Dr. Shannon McDonald, February 16.
“We weren’t able to fully meet the goals set, but we used every single vaccine.”
The FNHA is working with the BC Department of Health to meet the target by the end of next month.
Continue reading: According to surveys, most Canadians blame the federal government for vaccination delays
Positive cases, mostly related to gatherings during the Christmas holidays, increased steadily over the past month in First Nations communities with clusters and outbreaks.
“Unfortunately we have suffered a lot of losses during that time,” said McDonald.
As of February 12, a total of 426 COVID-19 cases are active among First Nations in BC, of which 185 are in reserve.
While the number of new cases has decreased, First Nations in BC have raised concerns about the new COVID-19 variants.
Possible variant cases have been identified in two remote First Nations communities in Manitoba, but not yet in BC, McDonald said.
Continue reading: Racized adults on the revised priority list of the federal COVID-19 vaccination
In total, more than 16,000 indigenous peoples were vaccinated in 90 First Nations communities, with a further 3,000 in urban clinics.
“We are doing everything we can during this pandemic to get the vaccine into the community as soon as possible,” said Sam Riczu, Esdilagh First Nation nurse, on a Feb. 8 Facebook video of her community in the northern interior of BC.
“I was recently told that we have a very, very high priority at the FNHA, but with global supply currently running out, we’re just waiting for the provincial government to let us know when it’s our turn.”
Posted by Nazko First Nation on Friday February 12th, 2021
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