Omicron wave claims ninth COVID-19 victim on Six Nations
Six Nations of the Grand River has lost another resident to COVID-19.
Elected council announced the latest death Tuesday afternoon, bringing the total death toll on the reserve to 24.
Nine band members have died of COVID-19 during the Omicron wave, while the vaccination rate on Six Nations continues to lag.
So far this year, Omicron was deemed the cause of death for five band members living in the community and four residents of Iroquois Lodge, a long-term-care home on Six Nations that had a large COVID-19 outbreak last month.
Six Nations councillors and public health officials continue to encourage residents to get vaccinated, follow public health measures, and get tested if they have potential COVID symptoms.
As of the most recent update from public health on Monday, half of band members had received two doses of vaccine, while 55 per cent had received at least one.
At a recent Six Nations elected council meeting, infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch stressed the importance of vaccination.
The best thing you can do to protect yourself and protect those around you is get the vaccine," said Bogoch, noting data from the billions of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered around the world underscores the vaccine's effectiveness at keeping COVID-19 patients out of the ICU.
People who get vaccinated are just way less likely to get sick enough to get to hospital ... and they're way less likely to die of COVID compared to unvaccinated people," Bogoch said.
Wearing masks indoors, keeping indoor gatherings small and improving ventilation all provide additional layers of protection, he added.
Public health says 68 per cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Six Nations since Sept. 1 have been among unvaccinated residents. Councillors are awaiting the results of a McMaster University study into the reasons behind persistent vaccine hesitancy in some Indigenous communities.
As of Monday, there were 19 active cases on the reserve, with four band members in hospital and a further 63 in self-isolation.
J.P. Antonacci's reporting on Haldimand and Norfolk is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. jpantonacci@thespec.com