The Moderna vaccine has been predominately administered by the LLRIB. (submitted photo/Saskatchewan Health Authority)

By Derek Cornet

inoculations

LLRIB vaccine drive thru open to anyone 18-plus with Treaty status living on or off reserve

May 5, 2021 | 12:48 PM

Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Chief Tammy Cook-Searson is strongly encouraging local residents to partake in the COVID-19 vaccination programs underway in the tri-communities.

Anyone 18 and over who has Treaty status from any First Nation, whether they live on reserve or not, can receive a shot today at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre vaccine drive thru. It’s also open to non-status individuals living on reserve or employed with the LLRIB. The drive thru will be open between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The drive thru was also open Wednesday when only 22 people received a vaccine.

“We would like to see a lot more people use the drive thru,” Cook-Searson said. “There’s no appointment necessary, people can just show up. If you have any questions or anything like that, they can call the Jeannie Bird Clinic at 1-306-425-3600.”

So far, the LLRIB has administered 3,062 first and second doses of mostly the Moderna vaccine. As for first doses, to date there have been 1,270 in La Ronge, 676 in Stanley Mission, 159 in Sucker River, 122 in Hall Lake, 108 in Grandmother’s Bay and 159 in Little Red River combined with Montreal Lake Cree Nation. In all, there have been 568 second doses.

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In the Far North East region, there has been 7,342 doses as of May 4 with 1,259 being second doses. The region has a population of 24,195 people.

“The age just opened up, so we have to do a lot more public health education on the younger population to get the vaccine,” Cook-Searson said. “Right now, we have the third wave hitting the larger centres. Regina has been hit hard with the third wave and, across Canada, we’ve seen the new wave with variants of concern that are hitting the younger population. We are in a race against time to get people vaccinated.”

On Tuesday, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced the Re-Opening Roadmap for the province will be directly tied to vaccination rates. For some restrictions to be lifted, 70 per cent of the population 40 and older will need to be vaccinated and so on. Cook-Searson noted Moe’s plan makes sense.

The Re-Opening Roadmap was released by the provincial government Tuesday. (Scott Moe/Facebook)

“By the end of May, which is just a few weeks away, there will be enough vaccines to vaccinate anyone who is Treaty status within the province who is 18 and over,” she said. “We just need people to take the vaccines when it is available to them.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno