Nation 2 Nation News

Urban Indigenous no longer wait for second dose

By: 

Angela Lavallee

Urban Indigenous who reside in the City of Peterborough will no longer have to wait 4 months before they get their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine according to Ontario Regional Chief (ORC) Roseanne Archibald. 

“I am please to announce the vaccine dosing interval for urban Indigenous in Ontario has been reversed to the original 21-28 day schedule. I’m grateful too many other supporters who recognized the need to protect the vulnerable,” stated ORC Archibald on the official Twitter page. She also went on to say that she is certain that changing the dosing intervals will prevent hospitalizations and save lives. All the details are being worked out as to when the Public Health Units will hold the second does clinics.

The Province moved all the second doses to 16 weeks in between shots in March.

Brittany Cadence, Communications Manager at Peterborough Public Health stated in an email  that the provincial government consulted with First Nations in March to have those opted in for the second dose 35 days after the first and there were only a couple of exceptions. “The decision for a shortened second dose interval for residents of First Nations communities was made at the provincial level in consultation with First Nation community leadership.   Cadence also said the decision cannot be made to up the interval at a local Medical Officer of Health. However, those who opted to get the first shot during the First Nation led clinics on reserve were able to get their second dose 35 days after their first dose of the vaccine. 

ORC Chief Archibald who announced in March that all registered First Nations get fully vaccinated is advocating for urban Indigenous to follow the same interval for second dose as that of on reserve residents. She says it is up to the Public Health units who are hosting Urban Indigenous vaccination clinics have the discretion of how it’s operated. “Ontario Regional Chief sits at the vaccine distribution task force and is advocating for urban Indigenous to receive the original 21-28 dosing interval,” said Genna Benson, Communications for Ontario Regional Chief Archibald.