Navajo Nation receives 1st shipment of COVID-19 vaccine Shondiin Silversmith, Arizona Republic
As the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the U.S. this week, the Navajo Nation received its first doses Monday and plans to administer them to health care workers starting Tuesday.
The pandemic has at times overwhelmed the Navajo Nation, which earlier this year had the highest infection rate per capita. The daily number of COVID-19 positive cases has risen sharply during the latest wave of the virus, according to data from the Navajo Nation Department of Health.
On Monday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer visited the Gallup Indian Medical Center as the Navajo Area IHS received the first shipment of the vaccines.
New Mexico Delegation Pushes Trump Administration To Act On Navajo Nation Request For Major Disaster Declaration Amid Devastating Impacts Of COVID-19 Pandemic
New Mexico Delegation News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján, Deb Haaland and Xochitl Torres Small are urging the Trump administration to take immediate action on Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez’s recent request for a major disaster declaration.
Tribal communities have been especially hard-hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a major disaster declaration is necessary for the Navajo Nation to address the ongoing public health and economic effects.
Navajo Nation to receive its first vaccine doses this week
From CNN s Claudia Dominguez
A sign near the Navajo Nation town of Tuba City, Arizona, in May. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
The Navajo Nation Indian Health Service (IHS) is expected to receive its first shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on Monday and Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Navajo Nation on Saturday.
“The shipment will be transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center, Chinle HIS, and Northern Navajo Medical Center,” where the vaccines will be stored at “deep freeze temperature” the statement said.
The vaccine distribution will be overseen by the Navajo Area IHS, according to the statement.