(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

COVID Outbreak

Muskoday First Nation seeing rise in members getting first COVID vaccine as community outbreak grows

Sep 29, 2021 | 4:00 PM

The Muskoday First Nation, southeast of Prince Albert, is seeing a sizable jump in members getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

A mobile vaccine clinic was held in the community on Tuesday where 22 individuals took advantage and received their first dose.

This represents around three per cent of the First Nations’ population.

Chief Ava Bear believes the current outbreak her community is experiencing is showing some members just how serious the virus is.

“Up until this point, we did not have anyone in the hospital… we had some cases, but no one was ill enough to be hospitalized.”

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The outbreak was declared on Sept. 21.

At that time, 14 individuals had contracted the virus with three needing to be treated at the hospital.

As of September 29, there are 18 active cases, while another 30 members have been deemed close contacts.

Two individuals remain in the hospital.

“One got moved out of the ICU [Tuesday] which was very good news,” Bear added.

Along with the outbreak, Bear also believes the province’s proof of vaccination policy is also helping drive up their vaccine numbers.

Starting on Oct. 1, people across Saskatchewan will need to show proof they’ve been vaccinated or a negative test to attend public events or take part in certain luxuries.

“One person said they don’t believe in the vaccine; they have to nowadays to be able to go to restaurants or movies,” Bear said.

Any Saskatchewan resident with a MySaskHealthRecord account can now access their COVID-19 vaccination record through a response (QR) code.

The code can be downloaded and saved to a mobile device or printed.

Meanwhile, Bear says around 50 per cent of her First Nations’ population, born in 2009 or earlier, have received both doses of the vaccine.

This is much higher than many northern communities are currently experiencing.

According to the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, First Nations among the Prince Albert Grand Council are seeing around 34 per cent of eligible members fully vaccinated with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council averaging approximately 38 per cent.

Bear believes the main reason many aren’t getting it is concerns around its timeline.

“They feel there wasn’t enough research done before the vaccine came out.”

First Nations were also some of the first communities across Canada to be offered the vaccine, due to fear of cases spreading easily, which only added to the concerns.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow