Mobile vaccine clinic to target marginalized communities, says Siksika Health

SIKSIKA – The Siksika First Nation has launched a new mobile vaccination clinic to service Calgary’s and Siksika’s marginalized populations.

Siksika Health Services is leading the Aisokinakiop clinic in partnership with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC), OKAKI, Seven Brothers Circle, the Calgary Homeless Foundation, Metis Nation of Alberta Region 3, BeTheChangeYYC, and the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS).

The clinic will be targeting temporary foreign workers and people who are homeless or in supportive living facilities.

“This accessibility means that people will get vaccinated who previously are not being vaccinated or who might not have this access to healthcare,” said Chaz Smith, the president and CEO of Be The Change YYC.

Outreach workers noticed hesitancy among the city’s homeless population to access services during the pandemic. They hope this van will get people re-engaging with supports—while offering a life-saving shot.

The van will also head out to first nation communities, as seen on Tuesday, along with farms with migrant workers, and areas with refugees, who face language and child care barriers. No one will need an I.D.

Siksika Health Services in partner with numerous agencies launched their mobile vaccination truck, Allowing people to get vaccinated that can’t through conventional means. The truck will visit remote areas as well as the homeless in urban areas. @660NEWS @citynewscalgary #yyc pic.twitter.com/ebfHH76I4E

— Nick Blakeney (@CameraGuyNick) June 8, 2021

The van is equipped with special tires for tough terrain and awnings for rain and sun.

“The mobile immunization outreach clinic is fully equipped to immunize people where they are at, and to ensure our most vulnerable members are able to receive their vaccine in the comfort of their own home,” said CEO of Siksika Health Services Tyler White in a release.

“In a pandemic, you want to use every tool you have available to you and you want to use it effectively,” said Dr. Omar Khan, a professor and biomedical engineer at the University of Toronto.

That means letting people know the van will be there, making return trips to areas so that people in those neighbourhoods have time to spread the word, and communicating the two to four week delay between the shot and actual protection.

“That bit of communication is going to be very important. Otherwise, if someone does get sick after their vaccination, immediately after, we don’t want to have misinformation that the vaccines didn’t work.”

The clinic will be motoring around based on vaccine bookings.

In-home appointments can be booked over the phone by calling 403-734-5695.