Posted on

TEB Discusses Vaccine Distribution

TEB Discusses Vaccine Distribution TEB Discusses Vaccine Distribution

The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board heard from Indian Health Service director Dennis Fourbear on Monday, Jan. 11, about the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine rollout, He discussed issues regarding human resources and staff shortages and received a request for recommendation from the U.S. Attorney.

Poplar is set to receive doses of the vaccine for members of the community on Jan. 14 at the Cultural Center. The Tribes have received 200 doses with 100 to arrive next week. Once a person receives their vaccine, there will be a 20-minute wait time to ensure that they don’t suffer from possible allergic reactions. This vaccine requires a second dose to work as intended, so those who get the vaccine will need to return 28 days after receiving the first in order to get the second.

Councilwoman Patt Runs Through asked Fourbear about the flu vaccine and whether people could get both at the same time. The director responded that there’s a two week period that must come between receiving the COVID vaccine and the flu vaccine.

Councilman Dana Buckles had his own questions about the rollout of the vaccine, asking how the word would get out.

It was decided that an announcement would be placed in the Fort Peck Journal. To prepare for the rollout, Fourbear asked the board for security during the events. He said that in previous testing clinics, there were issues with angry individuals and he doesn’t want a repeat. Drivethrough testing clinics have ceased due to poor turnout.

Runs Through asked if security was all he needed, or if there were additional staffing issues. The councilwoman was responding to the departure of Dr. Gary Latortue in Wolf Point had recently resigned due to family issues. This sparked a new conversation about human resources and hiring new staff.

“The hiring process is frustrating because we’re relying on other people to do the work for us,” Buckles told the board. He went on to say that the process should be shortened to compensate for IHS’s high turnover.

Charlie Headdress spoke candidly saying that the tribes have to pay more competitively. Otherwise, he said, no one wants to come to the Fort Peck Reservation.

The meeting adjourned at one point during a closed executive session regarding the state’s access to the tribal buffalo herd.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST NEWS