National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A remote First Nation community on the West Coast has extra reason to celebrate the new year after getting the all-clear from health officials on a COVID-19 cluster and news it’s at the front of the line for the Moderna vaccinations.

Considered COVID free

The Klahoose community on Cortes Island, B.C., has gone a month, or two back-to-back quarantine periods, without any new COVID-19 cases, said Chief Kevin Peacey.

“We’re considered free and clear of COVID-19 at this time, with no known new active cases in December,” Peacey said.

“Our family household celebrated this on Dec. 27, which was also my wife Georgina’s birthday, who said being COVID-free was the best gift.”

Receiving Moderna vaccination

Plus, Island Health and the First Nations Health Authority informed Klahoose First Nation, which has 90 members, that it would likely receive Moderna vaccines by the first week of January.

“Our community has been given priority because of how remote we are, along with seven other remote First Nation communities in the Island Health region,” Peacey said.

Cortes Island, located off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, only has a small medical clinic, and getting to the nearest hospital is a journey that includes two ferry rides.

“It can be quite stressful being so far away from hospital services during a deadly pandemic,” Peacey said.

“Of course, right now we are really looking to the vaccine to protect us from going through any further COVID-19 crises. We are feeling positive about that.”

Klahoose plans to start vaccinating residents of the reserve in Squirrel Cove as of Monday, said Peacey, who added he will get the shot early on to encourage other community members to do the same.

“I’m feeling confident that we can trust the science behind the Moderna vaccine and the First Nations Health Authority team that have been able to satisfactorily answer all our questions,” he said.

Amanda Whitmore, a member of the Klahoose community health team, said the community clinic is expecting vaccines for approximately 60 people.

Ideally, everyone will get vaccinated, but the goal is to get 80 to 90 per cent of the population inoculated, Whitmore said, adding the second dose will be administered a month later.

After four people tested positive

The community went into lockdown on Nov. 26 and declared a state of local emergency after four people in the small island community tested positive for the virus.

Tina Wesley, the Klahoose emergency response manager, said the key to rapidly containing the community’s cluster was having emergency response and pandemic plans in place ahead of time.

When the COVID-19 crisis in B.C. began to unfold in the spring, Wesley and other community members started getting prepared, she said, adding she has worked to ready the community for a range of emergency scenarios on a volunteer basis for six years.

Top photo credit: Klahoose Chief Kevin Peacey, shown above talking to a resident about COVID-19, is excited Moderna vaccinations will get underway in the remote community Monday. Photo courtesy of Chief Kevin Peacey