COVID-19 Vaccine information – Blackfeet Nation

COVID‐19 Vaccine – 12/23/2020 IHS Blackfeet Service Unit

Food and Drug Administration issued the second emergency use authorization to Moderna COVID‐19 Vaccine to be distributed in the U.S for use in individuals 18 years of age and older.
The Indian Health Service received 22,425 doses of Pfizer and 46,000 doses of Moderna.
In the first two weeks of vaccine distribution, 85,000 doses have been distributed through the IHS to federal, tribal and urban Indian health programs.
We need to continue to diligently prevent the spread of COVID‐19 by consistently practicing the 3 Ws: Wear a mask, Watch your distance, Wash your hands
With colder weather, and more people indoors – we find that pandemic fatigue is setting in.
Maintaining physical distance from those we love is difficult. The holidays are typically a time to reconnect with family and friends. As we are seeing cases of COVID‐19 continue to rise, we must renew our sense of personal accountability to protect ourselves, and those around us.
Vaccination is the safest, most effective and most reliable way to keep yourself, your family and your community healthy and safe from COVID‐19.
COVID‐19 vaccines are 95% effective and have undergone rigorous safety testing.
COVID‐19 vaccines are one of many important tools to help us stop this pandemic.
While we begin administering the first doses of this remarkable COVID‐19 vaccine, there are simple measures everyone can practice now to lower spread, decrease risk of severe complications, and move toward safely reopening. Our best immediate defense against #COVID19 is to continue following the 3Ws and getting your flu shot!
The IHS has allocated COVID‐19 vaccines to the IHS Areas proportionally based on the number of individuals in the first priority group, which includes health care personnel and long‐term‐care residents as determined by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
This would allow IHS to vaccinate 100% of its health care work force and residents of long term care facilities not accounted for by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Health facilities will use the remainder of the Pfizer and Moderna doses to vaccinate the next priority populations in accordance with ACIP guidelines and agreements.
December 20, CDC ACIP interim recommendation for groups to be vaccinated:
Phase 1b: persons 75 years and older and frontline essential workers (first responders, teachers, food and agriculture, manufacturing, correction workers, U.S. Postal Service, public transit, and grocery store workers) and
Phase 1c: people aged 65 to 74 years old and people 16 to 64 years old who have high-risk medical conditions, and other essential workers
The task force continues to coordinate vaccine logistics, issue guidance and communications, and prepare for additional vaccine updates.

Sovereign authority of tribal nations:

The IHS developed the COVID‐19 Vaccine plan based on The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID‐19 Vaccination Interim Playbook for Jurisdiction Operations, while recognizing the sovereign authority of tribal nations to provide for the welfare of their people.
Tribal health programs and urban Indian organizations that chose Indian Health Service for distribution are encouraged to follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ACIP guidelines. Currently, we are in Phase 1A, which prioritizes health care workers and residents of long term care facilities.
Blackfeet Community Hospital healthcare workers received the first round of vaccine along with the Blackfeet Care Center and Blackfeet EMS on December 23, 2020!

Blackfeet Information Update (video).

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ