Gary Caldwell of Maymont receives his vaccination at the clinic in North Battleford on Wednesday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

COVID-19 support

Teachers and support staff eligible for vaccines starting Friday

Apr 29, 2021 | 9:53 AM

Beginning Friday, teachers and support staff of all ages will be able to get their COVID-19 vaccines at the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC) clinic at the Dekker Centre in North Battleford.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) included this group among the priority workers who will be eligible for the vaccine.

BATC director of operations Alexis Christensen, the project manager of the vaccine clinic, said participants must pre-book their appointments.

“We have access to the SHA system so we have been able to start booking them in advance for the opening day,” she said, adding that many have already made inquiries. “[It’s] just showing that the teachers are eager, they are willing to do their part, and they are ready to go.”

As a past educator herself, Christensen said she is very excited for them.

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“I think it’s been a really long road for a lot of people, but specifically teachers,” she said.

In addition to teachers and educational staff working with students, eligible priority workers include police, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, public health inspectors, and all previously-identified frontline healthcare workers.

The BATC vaccination clinic is located at the Dekker Centre. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The BATC clinic at the Dekker Centre continues for the general public meeting SHA age requirements.

Currently, ages 42 and over are eligible for the vaccine. As of Friday, the age limit will be lowered to 40 and over.

The clinic, available to everyone in the community, first opened about three weeks ago. Plans are for it to continue until the end of July, with direction from the SHA and Indigenous Services Canada.

On May 1, BATC is planning a one-day clinic for Indigenous people only, ages 16 and over, at a location on Saulteaux First Nation’s urban land site, located about two kilometres north of North Battleford.

“The First Nations are doing amazing vaccine programs right now,” Christensen said. “We just want to make sure that there is an additional avenue for those who want the vaccine to be able to get it in a timely manner. So we’re having a separate clinic for that.”

Offered by BATC in partnership with Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre and Indigenous Services Canada, the clinic will be open for those residing both on and off reserves.

“There is a little bit of hesitancy in some areas. But for the most part, we’re just finding that they are not able to book fast enough,” Christensen said. “So we’re going to have a separate clinic to make sure we can address that issue.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow