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Izee’ Baa Gowąh deploys vaccination teams into the community

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Since Dec. 2020, the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation (SCAHC) hit the ground running vaccinating members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. It began with vaccine clinics at both SCAHC (Pfizer vaccine) and Clarence Wesley Health Center (Moderna vaccine), evolved into mass vaccination drive thru clinics in various parts of the reservation, and now community Pop-Up Clinics. “As frontline warriors, our teams have seen the worst of this pandemic. It is because of this they are passionate about reaching everyone who is eligible to get the vaccine,” said SCAHC CEO Vicki Began.

SCAHC has deployed teams within the community by way of the drive thru clinics. Through those efforts they have been able to mass vaccinate a total of 2,166 (1,729 prime and 437 boosters) tribal and community members. Lapriel Dia, SCAHC CNO, who is leading the drive thru clinic efforts, said “There is light at the end of the tunnel – getting back to some form of normalcy means we must get vaccinated. My heart swells with pride every time I see a car and/or a walker come to the drive thru clinics – because I know they will soon be protected.”

Melinda White, SCAHC Quality Management Director, is forging forward in leading the efforts of the Pop-Up Clinics. She said, “It began as a door to door campaign. Our team called a number of patients and we knocked on doors; we were able to vaccinate five individuals. However, when we drove through the community we noticed there was a lot of foot traffic in certain areas and did an impromptu Pop-Up Clinic – through this, we were able to vaccinate a total of 22 tribal members in one day. We want to give every tribal member and community member the opportunity to get vaccinated. If they cannot make it to the hospital or to the drive thru clinics for their vaccination, we are coming to them.”

To reach herd immunity, SCAHC states there must be 80 percent of the tribal population vaccinated.

As of Feb. 20, 2021, SCAHC reported they were at 71.84 percent of individuals who either recovered from Covid-19 and/or have been vaccinated. Currently, there is a total of 3,041 individuals needing to be vaccinated to reach 80 percent for herd immunity.

The San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation will host the following Pop-Up and Drive Thru Clinics:

Wednesday, Feb. 24

Indian Hills Park

San Carlos, AZ

Moderna 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 25

San Carlos Boys & Girls Club

San Carlos, AZ

Moderna 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 27

San Carlos Boys & Girls Club

San Carlos, AZ

Moderna 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Wednesday, March 3

Near Mt. Turnbull Market

Bylas, AZ

Moderna 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 6

San Carlos Jr. High School

(next to Burdette Hall)

Moderna 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

For your Covid-19 vaccine questions, please call Sunshine Hoffman at 928-475-1229.