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FWFN to begin COVID-19 vaccinations this week

The community will receive 600 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and Chief Peter Collins said they are hoping to have all members vaccinated by the end of April.

FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION - Members of Fort William First Nation will be rolling up their sleeves in the coming days to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, with the most vulnerable members to receive first doses this week and remaining members to be immunized in the next two months.

“I think that’s a critical step for us,” said Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins. “Being so close to an urban setting, being so close to what is impacting the city today and impacting our community, I think it’s a game changer for us. We are not going to let our guard down. We have to be mindful that everyone has not been vaccinated yet.”

Fort William First Nation will be receiving 600 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as part of allocations to the Thunder Bay district and immunizations will begin this Thursday. The community was listed as a higher risk on the province's vaccine tier system due to its proximity to an urban centre and the U.S./Canada border. 

Those to receive the vaccine first are considered to be at the highest risk for severe illness from the virus and include individuals 55 years and older, with priority given to older individuals and people with underlying health issues or disabilities.   

Fort William First Nation has 1,200 members living on the reserve and more than 2,500 members total.

“People living close to the vicinity of Fort William and in the city of Thunder Bay will be afforded the opportunity to be vaccinated this round provided they are in that age category,” Collins said.

The next round of vaccinations will be made available to registered members over the age of 16 and Collins said he anticipates that will be complete between March 31 and April 30.

The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is expected to be given after 21 days. Community members are required to register for the vaccine and Collins said steps are being taken to ensure non-members don’t try to take advantage of the vaccination clinic.

“We have a very good plan to make sure nobody sneaks through the cracks,” he said. “Most of our folks know everyone and anyone in the community. Our team is working diligently in the next few days to make sure that list is drafted properly.”

Fort William First Nation is partnering with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care to help with the distribution of the vaccine and it will be administered in the Fort William First Nation Community Centre.

According to Collins, more than 300 people have already registered to receive the vaccine and he expects that number to continue to climb.

There have been six COVID-19 cases in the community, with four having been resolved and two considered active.

Fort William First Nation remains under lockdown, with checkpoints at the entrance to the community. Collins said even with vaccinations starting, they will continue to monitor the situation in the community and in the city of Thunder Bay before making any decisions to lift any restrictions.

“You are letting your guard down because there are still a lot of folks who have received the vaccination,” he said.

“We want to make sure we get through this without anyone getting sick from the virus. We haven’t lost any members and that’s a good thing and a positive thing and if we stay strong and stay united, we will get through this without any loss of life and that’s the most important part for us.”

Fort William First Nation members can register for the vaccine by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 807-698-0415 or emailing covid19@fwfn.com.  



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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