Indigenous-focused COVID clinic helping improve vaccine uptake among off-reserve residents

A vaccine clinic is providinghundreds of city-dwelling Indigenous people with COVID-19 shotsin a place where they can feel safe and welcomed.

The clinic, set up inside the Best Western Premierin northeast Calgary, includes Indigenous greeters andstaff, as well as displays of local Indigenous history and artifacts.

It's designed to be a safe space to increase the numbers of urban Indigenous people getting vaccinated.

It runs for eight days and involves partnerships between several Indigenous organizations in the city.

COVID-19 vaccine clinic looks to connect Indigenous patients with their culture

3 years ago

Duration 1:33

This specialized immunization clinic in Calgary is hoping to boost the number of Indigenous vaccinations in the city by providing a safe space.

"This clinic is all about the power of partnerships,"said Beth Woytas, director of clinical operations at the clinic.

"We have a number of different organizations coming together and it's an Indigenous-led clinic led by the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary," said Woytas.

That list of partners includes Siksika Health Services, Awo TaanHealing Lodge Society and Okaki.

Six groups of health professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses and dentists, will deliver as many doses as they can in an eight-day period, ending April 23.

"We're providing a culturally safe environment. People greeting and providing information and addressing vaccine hesitancy,which is common in this population," she said.

The lobby of the building is decked out with Indigenous art and displays of old photos. A teepee is set up in the parking lot, while volunteers guide cars in and out.

"Every afternoon, we start with a smudge," said Melissa Roy, director of operations with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre.

Roy says it's an opportunity to improve and restore trust within the health-care system. She says it ties in with the theme of reconciliation.

"We have Indigenous families, mixed families, some homeless individuals it's a wide range,"said Roy.

"It's wonderful seeing our brothers and sisters waving, smiling and thanking us as they leave," she said.

A group of youth from the Siksika Nation travelled toCalgary tohelporganize parking and makepeople feel welcome.

"It's heartwarming to see all the Indigenous people coming here,"said Sayder Duckchief, part of a Siksika youth organization called SN7.

"They're here for their own safety and their family's safety and their friends', and that's something we need within the Indigenous community," said Duckchief.

He says there are manyplaces where Indigenous people are made to feeluncomfortable and a safe space is important.

"They're getting a vaccine at the end of the day, so it's all worth it," he said.

It's hoped up to 1,900 people will be immunized with the Moderna vaccine by the time the clinic ends.