All Indigenous adults in Hamilton are now eligible for their 2nd COVID-19 dose

Hamilton | Ontario | COVID | Latest News |

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Published April 10, 2021 at 9:12 am

Hamilton Public Health announced Friday (Apr. 9) that effective immediately, all Indigenous adults are eligible to receive their second doses of the COVID-19 vaccination on product monograph (21-28 days).

All members of the Indigenous community who have received the first dose will be contacted over the next week with an appointment for a second dose, according to Public Health.

“Indigenous communities can be a higher risk of COVID infections and complications given colonialism and racism,” reads the City of Hamilton website dedicated to the vaccine program. “Colonialism has impacted Indigenous healthcare, housing, drinking water supplies and access to traditional practices and foods.”

COVID infections can spread easily in crowded and multi-generational households where masking and physical distancing can be difficult or impossible to carry out.

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller noted that “regardless of where you call home, Indigenous peoples are 3.5 to 5 times more at risk of suffering severe or even life-threatening consequences of COVID-19.”

The city’s health officials say they continue to work with Indigenous organizations to set up pop-up vaccination clinics at Perkins Centre, located at 1429 Main St. East.

The clinic will be available:

  • April 12 from 1 to 6 p.m.
  • April 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • April 15 from 1 to 6 p.m.
  • April 16 from 1 to 6 p.m.

These are all by-appointment-only clinics and walk-ins are not permitted.

All adult members of the Indigenous population can book an appointment for a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination by calling the Public Health Services COVID-19 Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7.

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