Ktunaxa Nation announces cross-border vaccination clinic
By Contributor
Yaqan NuɁkiy (Lower Kootenay Band) announced Monday that it has partnered with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Canadian Border Services Agency, Representatives of the State of Idaho, the United States National Guard and the Ktunaxa Nation Council to hold a drive-through COVID-19 vaccination clinic on June 21. This day is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada.
“The fact that this clinic is being held on June 21 is not a coincidence,” said Nasuʔkin (Chief) Jason Louie. “As more Canadians begin to truly understand the ordeals that Indigenous People have faced–and continue to face–in this country, Yaqan NuɁkiy wants to be an example of what can be accomplished when we all work together. The true spirit of the Ktunaxa people has always been to help our neighbours and this clinic is an example of our commitment.”
The clinic is open to Indigenous People as well as any member of the general public and will be offering the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for initial and second doses. Clinic attendees will meet at the parking lot of the Yaqan NuɁkiy Administration Building at 830 Simon Road.
Nurses will be on site to sign a required medical letter for every person attending the clinic. People will then be transported by bus to Porthill Border Crossing where the vaccine will be supplied and administered by nursing staff from the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho in cooperation with the United States Border Service. A nurse on the bus will monitor all those who received the vaccine for a minimum of 15 minutes on the way back to Yaqan NuɁkiy. All of the above services are being provided at no cost to participants.
“Our community has been very vigilant during this pandemic,” continued Louie. “We have listened to our health staff and abided by all health and safety recommendations.
We ask that all those who attend the clinic also abide by these protocols including mask-wearing and physical distancing.”
Yaqan NuɁkiy Leadership respectfully requests that people wishing to receive a vaccination on June 21, call Angie at (250) 428 – 6967 to register. The opportunity to register for vaccines ends at 4 p.m. on June 16.
This is the single point of contact; please do not call the LKB Administration nor Canadian Border Services in respect to the vaccine clinic.
Comments