Thursday, December 24, 2020 - 6:09 am
AKWESASNE Following the early arrival of 200 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Saint Regis Mohawk Health Services announced it will proceed with vaccination plans beginning next Tuesday, Dec. 29.
“Receiving the vaccine earlier than expected is certainly pleasant surprise. We did not expect the distribution would be directly from the manufacturer, which was the case, thus cutting out middle people and getting here faster than expected,” said SRMT Health Services Director Michael Cook.
In accordance with the U.S. Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention’s recommended guidelines, voluntary vaccinations will commence on Tuesday with frontline healthcare workers, tribal police officers, and other tribal personnel who interact with the public daily.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020 - 6:14 am
Pictured are SRMT Clinical Director Dr. Benson Kelly and Pharmacy Supervisor Joan Westcott opening the first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
AKWESASNE After nearly 300 days since a State of Emergency was declared for the Akwesasne community, the first 200 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrived this week at Saint Regis Mohawk Health Services.
More will arrive in the coming months, but the first shipment of the vaccine provides a vital tool in combating the coronavirus, as it is 94.1% effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms from developing, Tribe officials said in a press release.
“My appreciation goes out to the Indian Health Service in facilitating the distribution of this historic vaccine. I wish we could start tomorrow but we’ve got some plans to put into place first,” stated SMRT Health Services Director Michael Cook.