Indigenous elders to be vaccinated at Wabano centre

Some members of Ottawa's Indigenous community will be vaccinated against COVID -19 on Thursday, as part of a partnership between the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health and Ottawa Public Health.

The special vaccine clinic for Indigenous Ottawa residents over the age of 70 was supposed to start on Wednesday, but this week's snowstorm delayed a needed shipment of Pfizer vaccines and pushed the clinic back by a day.

Wabano spokeswoman Catherine Henry said the clinic is now expected to begin Thursday and run until Saturday, vaccinating 90 people each day.

“We are starting with the oldest and most vulnerable in the community.”

Henry said demand for the vaccines has, so far, outpaced supply, but she expects the Wabano clinics to continue next week, as soon as more doses are available.

Indigenous Canadians are among the groups prioritized during the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Production slowdowns from vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna have meant fewer vaccines across Canada during much of the past month, but officials expect volumes to increase significantly by early March.

People over 80 are now on Ontario's vaccine priority list, but mass vaccination clinics cannot begin until more vaccines are available.

When more supplies are available, vaccinations at the Wabano centre will be by appointment only and require proof of Indigenous identity. For more information: 613-748-0657, ext. 456 or 465.