Teachers, all others welcome for walk-in vaccination at SaskTel Centre this week
- John Lagimodiere | May 03, 2021
The Saskatoon Tribal Council vaccine site at SaskTel Centre will accept 330 walk-in vaccinations per day for the six days of Monday May 3 to Saturday May 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saskatchewan Health Authority age limits will still apply during this week of walk-in treatments, but an exception is being made for teachers, said Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand.
Teachers will be asked to show proof of employment.
“These are our front-line people,” Arcand said, noting STC has also offered special days for corrections, policing, and fire.
Arcand said everyone is welcome, as usual.
“Covid doesn't see age, race or colour and is a hard disease to understand. We are all in this together and we want to be part of the solution,” he said.
The nursing complement will be increased to 15 from the usual eight to accommodate as many people as possible this week. The site will also still serve about 200 people per day who have booked appointments.
Vaccines available by appointment are Pfizer and walk-ins will receive Astra Zeneca.
The vaccinations are first come first served, so Arcand recommends bringing a chair and a book. There is plenty of parking and friendly greeters at the only entrance to the site.
The site was created to be culturally safe to make the vaccination process less stressful for Indigenous people. Elders are available and there’s a place to smudge before you come in.
“We need to get as many people as possible so we can get to herd immunity. We are all working together.”
Police Chief Troy Cooper and Mayor Charlie Clark are among Saskatoon residents who have thanked the Tribal Council vaccine site staff on social media. People are particularly impressed with the atmosphere and the gift box of masks and sanitizing supplies provided by the Battleford Agency Tribal Council.
“We all want safety and to hug each other. It is important we all do our part and promote health and safety,” said Chief Arcand.
“Our Indigenous people have lot of health concerns, so we encourage our people to come. Please. But our non-Indigenous friends as well. And we will give you a gift box when you leave. Let’s be a pro active solution.”