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Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and several senior delegates of the Navajo Nation Council received COVID-19 vaccines at Gallup Indian Medical Center on Thursday.
Erica Harker, an Indian Health Service pharmacy consultant and member of the Zuni Pueblo, administered the vaccine to Nez.
The tribal leaders received their shots during a video livestream, which they said they did to show Navajo residents that they are confident that the vaccine is safe and effective.
“This is for the elders and for the Navajo people out there who may be on the fence about taking the vaccine,” Nez said. “We will overcome this virus.”
The reservation is nearly finished giving vaccines to health care workers. Nez said the Navajo Area IHS will now vaccinate people who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
The Navajo Nation reported 287 new virus cases on Thursday, and 23 deaths. It was the highest single-day death toll for the reservation since the pandemic began, although the Navajo Department of Health said the large numbers may be the result of delayed reporting because of the Christmas holiday. A total of 23,090 people have tested positive for COVID-19, and 806 people have died from the disease.
For the past several weeks, the Navajo Nation has reported one of the country's highest virus infection rates per capita. In the week leading up to Christmas, the reservation recorded nearly 100 average daily cases per 100,000 people.
Dr. Loretta Christensen, chief medical officer for the Navajo Area IHS, said reservation residents should contact their local IHS clinics to schedule a vaccination appointment.
“This is the first weapon against COVID that we have,” Christensen said after receiving the vaccine. “Watch your distance, wash your hands, and please wear your masks. And if you don't have to go out, please stay home and stay safe.”
The Navajo Nation is beginning the new year with more weekend lockdowns and continued restrictions. Health officials for the tribe authorized lockdowns for today through Jan. 4 and for Jan. 8 through Jan. 11. The lockdowns will start at 8 p.m. today and end at 5 a.m. Monday.
The Navajo Department of Health ordered the continuance Dec. 24 due to “escalating incidents and community spread of COVID-19.” The order is scheduled to end on Jan. 11 unless extended or modified by health officials.
Other Native communities in New Mexico have also been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Several pueblos have instituted strict lockdowns to control the spread of the virus.
The Farmington Daily Times contributed to this report.
