The Indigenous Peoples Response To COVID-19 Vaccination? Inspirational

One facet of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout across the USA and elsewhere has been suspicion from BIPOC groups. After countless years of mistreatment by national authorities, many oppressed peoples are reticent to engage with vaccination programs. In the USA, this hasn’t been the case with Native Americans. As the LA Times outline, the vaccine has been embraced across the nations of the USA, and now, Indigenous people are providing a lifeline to Americans outside of their communities. How, and why?

Providing supply

Many reservations have arranged their affairs in such a way that their vaccines have arrived quickly and in great supply. As outlined by NPR, many nations have already achieved very high level of vaccinations. In a way reminiscent of some of the better vaccine development and procurement systems globally, the supply chain question has definitively been answered. Using proper cold chain management and the inherent organization of native American communities, vaccines have been received and delivered in an extremely efficient manner, and now, indigenous communities are seeing the results. What’s more, these communities are providing a lifeline for other state towns and cities outside of their reservations.

A surplus

In mid-March 2021, The Guardian reported that the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Osage and Choctaw had opened up free vaccinations, by appointment, to all Oklahoma residents, after experiencing a surplus in their own supplies – owing to proper planning from the councils in place across many of these reservations. This treatment of surrounding areas and communities that are perhaps less fortunate has been a huge boon to the host states of reservations, and something which is actually providing food for thought for the federal authorities and their planning for events similar to COVID-19 in the future.

A blessing for the government

Vaccinations have a controversial history with the indigenous peoples of the USA. The WaPo cover in detail the scandal of the 1832 Indian Vaccination Act, which enabled the removal of indigenous people from their land under the auspices of providing medical help. As a result, there has been historic caution over vaccination campaigns – and for good reason.

However, as the WaPo detail, the response this time around has been a blessing for the government. The active encouragement of native American community leaders, and the huge rate of uptake among a community disproportionately impacted by COVID (statistics indicate a three times higher rate of COVID-19 infection among indigenous Americans), has been an inspiration for the rest of the country and other communities that have misgivings over the vaccine. Leaders in showing how it’s done, the indigenous American nations of the USA have been an example to follow in how to deal with the vaccination campaign head-on.

With supplies now handed out to communities surrounding reservations, this good work will continue to provide benefits across the country. Although Native Americans could be forgiven for turning away from the vaccination campaign, their eagerness to get involved has set an inspirational mark for the rest of the country.

By Kylee Carter