Only 17 per cent of Black Lake residents received a first COVID vaccine dose. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

vaccination rates

Less than 40 per cent of AHA residents accepted first dose of vaccine

Jul 20, 2021 | 1:43 PM

The Athabasca Health Authority (AHA) has released new data into vaccinations rates in Saskatchewan’s Far North.

As of July 19, one in four persons living in the AHA region have been fully vaccinated with various rates in the community’s the authority serves. For instance, 100 per cent of Camsell Portage residents have been vaccinated, while in Stony Rapids the rate is 81 per cent, Uranium City is 68 per cent, Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation is 28 per cent and in Black Lake First Nation is 13 per cent.

The report notes targets have not been met in Black Lake or Fond du Lac.

“Although most of the provincial COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the Far North Central zone of Saskatchewan has a low COVID-19 vaccine uptake compared to the most parts of southern Saskatchewan,” it stated. “Communities in the AHA region have continued to follow the COVID-19 prevention guidelines.”

As for percentages for those who received a first dose, it is 93 per cent in Stony Rapids, 81 per cent in Uranium City, 47 per cent in Fond du Lac and 17 per cent in Black Lake with an overall first dose rate of 38 per cent. In all, there have been 1,019 first doses and 737 second doses.

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Most of the vaccinated individuals in the AHA region are adults, but persons aged 12 and up are now receiving the vaccine.

“Although we’ve explored many approaches in the past with some communities responding well to some as evident by the rate of vaccine uptake in the said communities, in the coming week(s) the next phase of interventional approach towards improving the COVID-19 vaccine uptake will be implemented in some AHA communities.”

In the last two months, there has almost been no movement in the number of people accepting a vaccine. In mid-May, 15 per cent of the targeted population at Black Lake Denesuline First Nation was immunized, while 30 per cent of those at Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation had received a shot. There are approximately 2,200 people living in those communities.

At the time, AHA CEO Allan Adam explained vaccine uptake could be slow due to the small number of active COVID cases in the Far North. He also said residents have a choice if they want the vaccine and some residents are trying traditional medicines as an alternative.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno