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In Nome, teachers started getting vaccines 2 weeks ago. In the Yukon River village of Beaver, one of the few remaining Indigenous language speakers got a vaccine.
Why? The Trump administration is shipping doses straight to tribes (thread):
https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/01/14/the-trump-administration-joined-with-tribes-to-get-vaccines-to-rural-and-indigenous-alaskans-heres-how/ #AKleg
Why? The Trump administration is shipping doses straight to tribes (thread):
https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/01/14/the-trump-administration-joined-with-tribes-to-get-vaccines-to-rural-and-indigenous-alaskans-heres-how/ #AKleg
So far, Alaska has received about 78,000 doses from Operation Warp Speed for the state government to distribute.
OWS is also treating tribes as sovereign governments, and Alaska tribes have received their own shipments of more than 35,000 doses.
OWS is also treating tribes as sovereign governments, and Alaska tribes have received their own shipments of more than 35,000 doses.
Tribal providers have been distributing vaccines across the state, using a fleet of chartered planes, snowmachines and sleds, even a water taxi. ( https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/01/08/in-rural-alaska-covid-19-vaccines-hitch-a-ride-on-planes-sleds-and-water-taxi/)
It's a significant commitment to and by Alaska tribes. But here's the thing: Alaska Native/American Indian people are dying from COVID at twice their share of the overall population. (Data from Alaska Dept of Health+Social Services) #AKleg
“It’s never been about equal distribution of the vaccine. It’s about equitable distribution,” said one tribal health leader. “Congregate living settings that exist in most of our villages is a setup for the virus to spread like wildfire, and there’s no defense against that.”
One more thing: This almost didn't happen in Alaska, because of how tribes here chose to receive their vaccines thru the state rather than the IHS.
Alaska's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. @annezinkmd, had to intervene with the head of Operation Warp Speed.
https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/01/14/the-trump-administration-joined-with-tribes-to-get-vaccines-to-rural-and-indigenous-alaskans-heres-how/
Alaska's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. @annezinkmd, had to intervene with the head of Operation Warp Speed.
https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/01/14/the-trump-administration-joined-with-tribes-to-get-vaccines-to-rural-and-indigenous-alaskans-heres-how/
