Fast rollout of virus vaccine trials reveals tribal distrust
By FELICIA FONSECAJanuary 5, 2021 GMT
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) The news came during a hopeful time on the largest Native American reservation.
Daily coronavirus cases were in the single digits, down from a springtime peak of 238 that made the Navajo Nation a U.S. hot spot. The tribe, wanting to ensure a COVID-19 vaccine would be effective for its people, said it would welcome Pfizer clinical trials on its reservation spanning Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Right away, tribal members accused their government of allowing them to be guinea pigs, pointing to painful times in the past when Native Americans didn’t consent to medical testing or weren’t fully informed about procedures.
Felicia Fonseca
This undated photo provided by Arvena Peshlakai shows Arvena Peshlakai opening the gate to her sheep corral at her home in Crystal, New Mexico. She and her husband Melvin volunteered to participate in coronavirus vaccine trials on the Navajo Nation. As coronavirus vaccines were being developed around the world, few Native American tribes signed up to participate. The reasons range from unethical practices of the past to the quick nature of the studies amid the pandemic. Native researchers say without participation from tribal communities, tribes won t know which vaccine might best be suited for their citizens. (Courtesy Arvena Peshlakai via AP).
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The Utah Navajo Health System operates four clinics in San Juan County, including two on the Navajo Nation. It received 850 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 24, 2020.
Clifford Sagg received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, as part of the first wave of vaccinations on the Navajo Nation.
The 52-year-old said the experience was exciting but also scary, because he suffers from food allergies and was worried he might have a bad reaction.
Courtesy of Clifford Sagg
Clifford Sagg, 52, holds his vaccine certificate. He works as a quality improvement coordinator for the Utah Navajo Health System in San Juan County, Utah.
Navajo Nation receives 1st shipment of COVID-19 vaccine Shondiin Silversmith, Arizona Republic
As the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the U.S. this week, the Navajo Nation received its first doses Monday and plans to administer them to health care workers starting Tuesday.
The pandemic has at times overwhelmed the Navajo Nation, which earlier this year had the highest infection rate per capita. The daily number of COVID-19 positive cases has risen sharply during the latest wave of the virus, according to data from the Navajo Nation Department of Health.
On Monday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer visited the Gallup Indian Medical Center as the Navajo Area IHS received the first shipment of the vaccines.