Any Oklahoma resident is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, this feat is not because of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, several native tribes are the ones Oklahomans would want to thank.
Mid-March, the Chickasaw Nation announced that the COVID-19 vaccination appointments were open, regardless of citizenship. In a press release on March 13, the Chickasaw Nation announced that all Oklahomans are eligible for a vaccination at any of the Chickasaw Nation vaccine locations.
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said the vaccines should be the beginning of the path to normalcy.
“We are pleased to do our part to help put an end to this pandemic,” Anoatubby said. “Working together, we can help protect our family, friends and neighbors as we help speed our return to a greater sense of normalcy. Vaccinations, wearing masks, responsible distancing and washing our hands will help make our community and state safer for everyone.”
Other Oklahoma tribes such as the Osage, Choctaw and Citizen Potawatomi Nations have all opened vaccinations to the public. The Cherokee Nation is doing things a tad different; they are offering vaccination appointments to anyone residing with its 14-county jurisdiction.
The state of Oklahoma is currently on Phase 3 of the vaccination plan. This means only health care workers, first responders, residents 65 and older, teachers and school staff, people with medical conditions, public health staff, government officials, essential workers and people in congregate settings are eligible for the vaccine. All of Oklahoma residents will not be eligible until Phase 4 under the state’s vaccination plan.
Oklahoma tribal nations received vaccine allotments from the Indian Health Service. As the tribes proved they were sufficient in administering the vaccines, they received more doses. This allowed the tribes to expand beyond their own citizens.
Chickasaw Nation’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Krueger attributes the tribe’s strong framework for its ability to offer the vaccines to non-Native members.
The Chickasaw Nation opened a new facility in Ada recently. The new location has 16 drive-thru lines, adequately boosting the capacity. They also have three other vaccination sites and have a team that travels to people’s homes.
Krueger said that the nation’s fast actions lining up the vaccines will assist in flattening the curve.
“We are a part of these communities, and they are a part of us,” Krueger said. “The faster we can get all of us back to essential protection, the better it is for us and the better it is for everyone.”
According to Krueger, the Chickasaw Nation has administered more than 30,000 vaccines to date.
Captain Clinton Bullock, the director of pharmacy for the Choctaw Nation Health Care Center credits their success on vaccinating early priority groups such as elders.
Bullock said the tribe is taking advantage of the resources offered by the Indian Health Service to help safeguard the rest of the state.
“There are, of course, non-Native members of the community that our tribal citizens come in contact with,” Bullock said. “Helping to develop this herd immunity not only benefits the tribal members, but the community as a whole.”
Anybody wanting to get a vaccine can schedule an appointment for a drive-thru dose in Ada or at one of the Chickasaw Nation’s satellite health clinics in Ardmore, Tishomingo or Purcell.
Persons can schedule an appointment for a drive-thru vaccine in Ada or at one of the Chickasaw Nation satellite health clinics in Purcell, Ardmore or Tishomingo. To schedule a visit, just go to https://chickasaw.net/COVIDVaccine.
According to the website, recipients must be age 18 or older for the Moderna vaccine, and 16 or older for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The website also offered other suggestions. They suggested that anybody who has recently been infected with the virus get a vaccine as soon as they recover. There is no wait period unless the patient received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as treatment.
“The COVID-19 vaccine, when combined with responsible public health measures such as masking, responsible distancing, hand and surface hygiene, limitation of group size and contact duration, and effective air exchanges, can result in significant protection from COVID-19 infection, and serious illness and injury,” said Dr. Charles Grim, the Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Health. “For this reason, it is important for everyone to get vaccinated so that we can obtain ‘herd immunity’ as quickly as possible.”
The Chickasaw Nation COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center is available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at (580) 272-1339 to assist patients 65 and older, and patients with no internet access. The call center is closed weekends and on Chickasaw Nation holidays.