Vaccination Campaign Launch

12/23/2020

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign started last week in Quebec.  In the Montérégie territory, the first vaccines were administered on December 21st.  The first COVID-19 vaccine to a Kanien’kehá:ka, a health care worker in our LTC unit,  was given today, Wednesday, December 23rd.  Twenty of our community members/health and social service workers will be vaccinated on this first day of four post-delivery of the first batch of Pfizer vaccine to the Montérégie area.

As recommended by the Quebec vaccination committee, COVID-19 vaccines will be offered according to a pre-established level of priority according to the number of available doses.

The first round of immunizations will target Health and Social Service Workers within the KMHC long-term and short-term care residence, The Turtle Bay Elder’s Lodge, and the Independent Living Center. The community can expect more direct communication in the coming weeks as it becomes available.  A vaccination sub-committee is in place, and various meetings have already taken place at the federal, provincial, regional, and community levels.

Although the beginning of vaccination brings hope, this does not signify the end of the measures that we presently have in place.  It will take many months to protect a sufficient amount of the population with the vaccine.  A 70% vaccination rate is needed to achieve herd immunity. We encourage everyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is their turn. We must continue to implement the crucial measures of 2-meter distancing, hygiene, and masking until further notice.
For further information about the vaccine, we urge you to consult the following reputable places for further information:

• Quebec.ca website at the following URL.  You can click on the “English” link at the top right-hand corner of the page for the English version.   (https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/progress-of-the-covid-19-vaccination/)
• We also urge you to consult the following You-Tube video, prepared by Dr. Annick Gauthier for an explanation of the vaccine, efficacy and safety, and FAQs.  https://youtu.be/5ymJhOXhtqg

We are proud to state that Kahnawà:ke is at the forefront of the Quebec and Canada vaccination campaign.  We receive information regularly and will continue to keep you up-to-date as we receive further details regarding the roll-out of the vaccination campaign.  Please check out pictures and videos of our first community members vaccinated today on the Kahnawake 911 Facebook page.