Northern Territories, home to many of Canada’s Indigenous people, lead COVID-19 vaccine launch

(Reuters) – Canada’s northern territories have achieved much higher COVID-19 vaccination rates than its more populous provinces, despite geographical challenges, in a sign that prioritizing vaccine launches in indigenous and rural communities is cost-effective.

Two government policies have helped to stimulate this early success. Solid action to Indigenous communities has sought to overcome the mistrust resulting from decades of ill-treatment by the Canadian government. In addition, officials sent more per capita doses to the Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories, home to many of Canada’s Indigenous people, than to other provinces.

Other measures contributed, including a small town lottery in Nunavut for those who get vaccinated by offering five cash prizes of C $ 2,000.

The three territories cover almost 3.9 million square kilometers (1.5 million square miles), or 40% of the Canadian area. But the rough terrain of the territories is home to only 125,000 people, most of whom are indigenous, many living in air-hit communities.

Despite this, almost 17% of their populations received at least the first dose of two-dose vaccines, compared to the national figure of 2%, according to government data. All three territories said they were on track to have at least 75 percent of their adult populations vaccinated by April, compared to the federal government’s September target for the rest of the country.

LONG WAITED

To combat the vaccine’s hesitation, Nunavut Health Minister Lorne Kusugak and the territory’s chief medical officer called on local community radio stations to answer questions and allay fears in the days leading up to a vaccine clinic.

Kusugak said the way his government has decided to overcome obstacles is by going to communities.

“It could be a 100,000 community, I think this formula works anywhere,” Kusugak said.

Vaccination of Indigenous communities is important to help keep COVID-19 deaths under control in Canada, as the risk of outbreaks in remote areas is considered high.

Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon’s chief physician, said the territories share common traits – remote, small and largely indigenous populations scattered over large areas with limited medical availability. Hanley called it “gratifying” that the provincial and federal governments recognized these factors.

Vaccine hesitation is a global issue, but distrust of the authorities is deeply rooted among these Indigenous people, who make up 5% of Canada’s population and have experienced centuries of ill-treatment and genocide at the hands of the Canadian government.

In addition, Indigenous people in Canada are more likely to live homeless or have no access to clean drinking water, making it difficult to distance themselves socially and wash their hands to combat the spread of COVID-19. Their life expectancy is 10-15 years shorter than non-native Canadians and they have almost double asthma and triple the rate of diabetes.

Recognition of these facts is long overdue, according to Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national organization representing the Inuit population of Canada, whose ancestral home covers much of the north.

“Part of the reason we have to prioritize is because of our health – and this is a legacy of colonialism and racism,” Obed said.

Obed added that the government’s priority over Canada’s Indigenous people “shows that we are on a new path to reconciliation.”