Family Pop-Up Vaccination Clinic
The City of Calgary is pleased to announce a unique vaccine outreach program for Calgarians. The City is offering family friendly pop-up vaccination clinics in partnership with aisokinakio'p, the Indigenous-led COVID-19 immunization clinic created by the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary and partners, Siksika Health Services and OKAKI Health Intelligence. The pop-up clinics are offered with support from the Calgary Homeless Foundation and Alberta Health Services.
“In working with our community partners, we heard through various channels that families are facing barriers to access vaccines. This is a great opportunity for The City to help remove those barriers and improve the health of our community. These pop-up clinics will have more than just the COVID-19 vaccine” said Acting Chief Mike Luchia from Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA).
Calgarians will be able to find these pop-up clinics:
Genesis Centre
#10 7555 Falconridge Blvd NE
Saturday March 12th
12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Village Square Leisure Centre
2623 56 St NE
Saturday March 19th
10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“Over the last year, aisokinakio'p’s Indigenous-led and culturally-sensitive approach has allowed us to vaccinate thousands of Calgarians, including Elders, refugees, and vulnerable community members,” said Shane Gauthier, CEO of the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, the clinic lead. “We are proud our innovative and welcoming approach can help protect even more Calgarians through these pop-up clinics.”
This will be a safe and welcoming family friendly clinic to help improve vaccination rates, especially among children. All are welcome and translation support will be available.
“OKAKI is committed to supporting immunization programs in Alberta. It has been a privilege to collaborate with all our aisokinakio'p partners, including the City of Calgary, to reduce barriers and improve access to vaccination for individuals of all ages through these family friendly pop-up clinics.” Dr. Salim Samanani, Medical Director, OKAKI.
This clinic will provide more than Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines. Calgarians will also be able to get an influenza shot as well as vaccination for pneumonia . This clinic will also have pediatric vaccines for COVID-19 and influenza.
“As a health services authority operating within a First Nations community, we are keenly aware of the significance of immunization, and the important role it can play in saving lives and protecting our most vulnerable populations. Equitable access to quality healthcare needs to be a top priority for all our communities, and the aisokinakio’p initiative, including these pop-up clinics in Mohkinstsis [Calgary], helps to ensure this equitable access for more people.” ~ Dr. Tyler White, Naa Taoyi Piita Wo Taan, CEO, Siksika Health Services
The City and its partners will have giveaways and hope that this event will be a way for the community to come together and connect in a mutual goal of strengthening the health of our communities. Participants are asked to bring their ID, an Alberta Health Card is helpful if people have one, but it is not required.
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