COVID Not Hoax
Dear Editor: COVID is not a hoax. That seems very apparent now. Incredibly smart people – researchers, scientists and doctors – started developing a vaccine in January 2020 because of the high death rates in China.
A global, cooperative effort resulted in a vaccine that saved lives and is saving lives around the world. All a virus needs to do is replicate and it found a perfect new host, the human body. Human beings perform miracles and the vaccine produced in such a short span of time is one of them. It’s a gift – take it. Get vaccinated.
Rebecca Osborn, Sitka
In Remembrance
Dear Editor: In remembrance of Gloria Jane Merculief, John Ricaporte and the 605,903 others.
One of the very first Alaskans to pass away from COVID was Gloria Jane Merculief. One of the most recent in our home community of Sitka to pass away from COVID was John Ricaporte. The news from his passing is so fresh, the tears of his children have yet to stop falling, and will take time before they begin to dry.
If you’re from the Alaska Native community, when we first started learning more about this virus, our thoughts centered on historical reminders of how health disparities have led to differing outcomes. The pandemic of 1918 wreaked havoc across rural Alaska. Who are the predominant inhabitants of rural Alaska? Well, they look a lot like Gloria and John.
As we look at trends, particularly when it comes to hospitalizations and deaths, communities of color are not faring well through this pandemic. We know why: health care access, occupation (we call them essential workers), discrimination, housing, the same inequities that rear their head throughout other elements of society. Perhaps that is why when the Alaska Tribal Health System started making moves, the focus was on being prepared and minimizing hardships throughout our remote communities – as well as preventing and, when needed, adequately caring for those who become infected.
Though they never will take credit, our ATHS has been instrumental leaders in vaccinating much of the state. This is partially why for this pandemic Alaska Native/American Indians have the highest vaccination rates (as of July 6, 45.5% are partially, 39.1% are fully vaccinated) in the nation.
Many who willingly signed on to get vaccinated did so out of community obligation. We are a collectivist community so when we were informed this virus would devastate our elderly populations, we rolled up our sleeves and put on our masks. We show up for them. We are fighting this pandemic because we know they cannot fight it alone. And yet with that said, we can also recognize that many in our community have trauma related to our system of health.
If this is you, I would encourage you to have a conversation with your provider, or with a trusted vaccinated friend or family member. You can even reach out to me (738-1910) – I’d be happy to share about my experience; and if you decide to get vaccinated whether it’s because you want to take advantage of the Sleeves Up Vaccination campaign, you want to protect others, or you want to protect yourself, I hope you will reach out to seamlessly schedule an appointment using the SEARHC COVID hotline at (907) 966-8799 or online at: https://covid19.searhc.org/.
Let’s keep our SEARHC workers busy focusing on vaccinations rather than ventilating incoming patients. As a regional hub we need to ensure they are ready and available to receive others who also need their services.
Thank you for doing your part to help bring our numbers down. The number of COVID attributed deaths is small in our community. Let’s keep it that way. Two is too many.
Ax tuwáa sigóo wooch xoox haa dateeyí, ách áwé wé náakw ax tóode kawdudlitsaak. Yá ax een koowa.oowu aa has xasixán. I want us to be among each other, that is why I got the shot. I love the people I am with.
Crystal “K’ayeitl’i” Duncan, Sitka
