Residents of the White Bear First Nation have started to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
A vaccination clinic started Monday at the Four Nations Care Lodge. The clinic was by appointment only, and for on-reserve members.
It’s one of the first vaccination clinics to be held for a community in South East Zone 4, which includes Estevan and other communities in the southeast corner of the province.
Numbers posted on the White Bear Health Facebook page on Saturday show that there were eight active cases of COVID on the reserve, and there had been 43 cases at White Bear since Jan. 1. Thirty-five people are considered to be recovered.
A total of 227 COVID tests had been administered at White Bear this year.
The number of active cases was down from 13 on Feb. 1.
Chief Nathan Pasap said the reserve has shut down its administrative office, the day care, arena, fitness centre and most of its operations on-reserve. The White Bear Education Complex has shifted to online learning. People are working remotely and attending meetings virtually.
“All of our students have been given virtual equipment to work with our teaching staff, so they’ve been working from home,” said Pasap.
If there are connectivity issues, the reserve makes sure people get Internet for their devices.
Food security for the community as a whole has been assured.
“Once a house has been deemed to be self-isolating, we provide food security and hampers to those houses during their isolation period. If there’s any prescription needs, we get those as well.”
And if there are babies in a household, diapers, formula and foods are looked after.
A pandemic co-ordinator and a health manager have done a lot of work, Pasap said.
“We’ve become pretty good at being able to address the needs of our community and the isolation measures. We’ve had a couple of outbreaks in the last couple of months here,” said Pasap.
Federal funding has helped White Bear meet financial needs that have occurred in the last couple of months.
White Bear Health has been posting the updated COVID numbers a few times a week because they want to be transparent and offer information to the community.
“I believe that transparency and good communication are paramount to putting people’s minds to rest. In regards to the confidentiality of the patients or the people who have contracted the virus, we do our best to maintain that as we can, and guiding the community forward.”
It lets them know about the virus and how it is moving through the community.
But if someone is sick, Pasap asked them to let the reserve know, because then they can provide assistance.
“We’re seeing a lot of mental health suffering going on. Obviously we have restrictions in place regionally, and people aren’t able to do the things that they would like to do, such as having a meal with your mom or your family members or your friends, or inviting people into your household visiting,” said Pasap.
If one person with the virus has a gathering in their home, that’s how the virus can spread.
The vaccine clinic will see those 80 years of age and up vaccinated first. Then the priority will shift to those 70-79, health staff and those who are immune-compromised.
“If there are still numbers left over beyond that, it will be distributed to 60 years old and up,” said Pasap.
A total of 100 vaccines arrived Friday and were placed in storage in vaccine fridges. The secondary batch of 100 doses is being scheduled for 28 days later.
The vaccine is optional, but it’s recommended that people receive it. If people are hesitant about receiving it, the reserve will explain why it’s beneficial.
While there are eight active cases on the reserve, Pasap said he hopes that before too long, there can be zero active cases.
Pasap said people who test positive almost seem to feel like they should be alienated from society or their families. They might feel shame, but Pasap encourages those who test positive to let family and friends know, so that people can provide support in any way possible.
“Any type of show of support is really healing to the individual, and also the mental health of the individual,” said Pasap.
