Indigenous-Specific COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics: Eligibility for Vaccinations

Posted Thursday March 25, 2021

Posted By: Jeffery Satchwill

Category: General

Indigenous-specific COVID-19 vaccine clinics are underway as part of Phase 1 of the vaccine roll out. You may have patients who self-identify as First Nation, Inuit and/or Métis who are currently eligible to receive their vaccination.

As part of OPH’s commitment to reconciliation, we are very pleased to be collaborating with the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, the Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team, and other local Indigenous agencies, to provide and promote culturally safe COVID-19 vaccination services for First Nations, Inuit and Metis adults in Ottawa. Details related to these services can be found on the OPH COVID-19 Vaccine webpage and in this article’s resource section. OPH would appreciate your help to share information about the clinics with your patients who identify as Indigenous and your health care partners.

Please note that the City of Ottawa’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout follows Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and Ethical Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution. In addition, OPH has established a local Vaccine Sequence Strategy Task Force. This group advises the City's Emergency Operations Centre on how to implement the sequence of vaccines within the local context including maximizing uptake among groups sequenced ahead of others. This Task Force includes representation from groups highly affected by COVID-19, such as newcomers, Indigenous communities, peoples who are racialized, older adults, and healthcare workers.  

Who is eligible?

First Nation, Inuit and Métis community members who are aged 40 and older are currently eligible for vaccination.

How to book an appointment

People eligible for vaccination are asked to complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Screening Tool before making an appointment.

Proof of Indigenous identity / status is required. Examples include:

• Status card
• Inuit beneficiary card
• Metis Card
• 60s Scoop Acceptance letter

Specific details related to booking appointments at the Wabano-OPH Clinic at St. Laurent Complex and the Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team Clinic can be found below under Indigenous Patient Resources.

Physicians Resources

• OPH COVID-19 Vaccine for First Nations, Inuit and Métis adults
• Vaccine Hesitancy and First Nations, Inuit and Metis Populations: Potential Implications During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Indigenous Patient Resources

• Before making an appointment, please complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Screening Tool.
• Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team Clinic Poster (AIFHT poster PDF Version Here)
• Wabano-OPH COVID Vaccination Clinic Poster available for download. (PDF Version here).
• Covid-19 vaccination fact sheet available for download, Wabano Centre (PDF version here)
• Maadookiing Mshkiki / Sharing Medicine -  Connecting Indigenous Communities with Culturally Relevant COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• OPH COVID-19 Resources for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Community Members
  

Kim Trotter, RN, BScN, MN
Knowledge Exchange Specialist / Spécialiste, Échange de connaisances

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