Vaccine incentives can help reach higher immunity, communities say

NWT communities recognize a need to encourage vaccine uptake and a new GNWT program could be a solution, especially for vaccine-hesitant youths.

The territorial government and the NWT Association of Communities (NWTAC) announced on May 17 a new initiative offering up to $10,000 per community to roll out programs to encourage more vaccinations among residents.

Vaccination rates in the territory stood at 59 per cent for full vaccination and 67 per cent for partial vaccination as of May 20, according to the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 COVID-19 Dashboard.

SEE MORE:

The number of people aged 12-17 who received Pfizer-BioNTech shots starting on May 7 has not yet been added to data on the dashboard, said Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) spokesperson Damien Healy.

RELATED REPORTING: Pfizer vaccines now available for Yellowknife youths

Fort Resolution

Patrick Simon, mayor of Fort Resolution, plans to discuss the funding programs with hamlet council as thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a need in the South Slave community to raise vaccination rates.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think we have 51 per cent full vaccination of adults. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e not too sure with the young people yet,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎bout 63-65 per cent have had one dose. It seems to be the older population, 50 and older, who have been more receptive. The younger ones tend to have a little more hesitancy. They donSA国际影视传媒檛 take it as seriously as the older population.SA国际影视传媒�

Whether the hamlet applies to NWTAC for the funding depends on the leeway the association gives in its criteria.

Simon suggested promotional campaigns, a feast or a barbecue could work in the community.

He also thinks that any initiative would have to target how residents receive their information.

SA国际影视传媒淪omeone like me will sit down at 6 oSA国际影视传媒檆lock and watch the news on TV, but I donSA国际影视传媒檛 see young people doing that. TheySA国际影视传媒檒l be on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or on the internet.SA国际影视传媒�

If it was up to Simon, the community would hold a lottery to encourage vaccinations, he said with a slight laugh.

SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檙e vaccinated, weSA国际影视传媒檒l put your name in a hat and you can win a good prize. If you want to target the young, what do they most want? Those games on the phones, or the most updated smartphones. If you offer something like that, young people might make an effort. For older people, maybe it could something traditional like moccasins or mitts.SA国际影视传媒�

Colville Lake

Youth uncertainty towards vaccines also persists in the Sahtu community of Colville Lake, and much of the hesitancy is rooted in misinformation on social media, said Chief Wilbert Kochon.

People aged 18 to 35 are reluctant to get their shots, in contrast to the First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 leadership and Elders, who have all been vaccinated, he said.

While Kochon is open to the possibilities of the NWTAC funding, he feels HSS should have done its own vaccine promotion campaigns instead of transferring some of those tasks to communities.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have to do more than just put money behind this. It would be nice to ask more young people about this and not just the leaders. Young people should get more involved. We have to build up that trust and help the young people,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e busy enough already and short-staffed all the time. WeSA国际影视传媒檒l talk about it and weSA国际影视传媒檒l see what we can do.SA国际影视传媒�

Focus is on all communities: NWTAC

Vaccination rates in the NWT are lowest in the Tlicho and Sahtu regions, at 43 and 47 per cent, respectively, but the NWTAC initiative targets all communities in the NWT, said association CEO Sara Brown.

Criteria for program approval is similarly broad.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have no preconceived notions of what (programs) might look like. We think the communities and Indigenous governments will have some great ideas and they know their communities best,SA国际影视传媒� Brown said.

NWTAC and HSS will review and prioritize applications SA国际影视传媒� due by May 31 SA国际影视传媒� based on their number and nature of the proposed programs, she added.

Tulita tries to be one jab ahead

In Tulita, the hamlet will apply for funding as the community was already considering how it could encourage more people to get their jabs before the NWTAC announced the funding program, said interim senior administrative officer Don Smeltzer.

SA国际影视传媒淢y personal view is that the initial vaccination rate was positive, (but) there is still a way to go,SA国际影视传媒� Smeltzer said.

He declined to specify the level of vaccination in the Sahtu hamlet out of confidentiality concerns.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are looking at promotional efforts that will target the whole community,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒�(That) may involve door-to-door campaigning, display of promotional literature throughout the hamlet, small group presentations, perhaps a weekly prize draw for those who sign up, and more. The community is being asked to provide input.SA国际影视传媒�

In the oil town of Norman Wells, the council will apply for NWTAC funding if it can prepare an efficient plan to use the funding, said Mayor Frank Pope.

Most residents have received both vaccine doses, Pope said in April.

SA国际影视传媒淲e intend to make use of incentives to encourage everyone, young and old, to get vaccinated. Not only for their own safety but for all of our residents.SA国际影视传媒�

SkySA国际影视传媒檚 the limit for vaccination target?

NWT chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola had said in the first few months of 2021 that the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 goal is to vaccinate 75 per cent of the eligible population.

The messaging from health officials began to change in March and April, when the 75 per cent goal came under question due to the spread of COVID-19 variants and the rate of vaccinations.

Additional vaccine allotments into June would allow the NWT to vaccinate 85 per cent of the eligible population, said Healy, suggesting the goal was revised upwards.

Kandola then said on May 3 that there wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 one specific vaccination target, although she added that the provision of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for teenagers would enhance the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 ability to control the spread of COVID-19.

RELATED REPORTING: NWT to get 18,800 more COVID-19 vaccine doses