Thanks to a partnership between the Region of Waterloo, Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) and the Grand River Hospital COVID-19 vaccination site, Indigenous community members in Waterloo Region can choose to receive their vaccine from an Indigenous immunizer in a culturally safe space, with traditional practice and medicines available for support.
The Region’s COVID-19 vaccine work with SOAHAC began with community pop up clinics, and has now led to Indigenous practices and considerations being incorporated at the Pinebush vaccine site managed by Grand River Hospital. Indigenous adults are a priority group identified with the Government of Ontario’s vaccine strategy. They experience chronic health conditions at a rate that is between 2 and 10 times higher than the general population, which has been linked to disproportionate levels of poverty, adverse living conditions and racism, and are therefore more likely to be adversely affected by COVID-19.
“The Region of Waterloo reached out to us after hearing about similar work we’ve helped to lead in Windsor and London,” explains Dave Remy, director of client care at SOAHAC. SOAHAC is an organization that helps to improve access to, and the quality of health services for First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. “We know that people from Indigenous communities often have poorer access to care services, as well as culturally appropriate and safe care, all of which lead to poorer health outcomes. Our role was to partner with staff from the Grand River Hospital Pinebush clinic to support them in addressing these community needs.”
Dave joined a team that included members from the Region of Waterloo vaccine task force and Grand River Hospital to help plan and introduce culturally safe practices at the vaccine clinic.
“We were thrilled to work with Dave and the Region on this,” says Vickie, integrated director of pharmacy at Grand River and St Mary’s General hospitals, and interim lead, vaccine operations for the Region of Waterloo. “We always want to be able to provide the best experience for those coming to the clinic. Through SOAHAC’s support and expertise, we have created the space and opportunity for those that identify as Indigenous, to receive culturally safe care. The initiative is also helping to educate and create awareness among non-Indigenous clients and staff.”
Culturally aware care encourages intentional and respectful awareness about differences between cultures and acknowledges these differences in the provision of health care. It also recognizes that because of systemic racism and prejudice within the health-care system, there is a lack of trust by Indigenous people in the system, which may contribute to hesitancy around seeking care.
Individuals are asked when they arrive at the Pinebush clinic if they identify as Indigenous. If they do, they are provided the option of receiving the vaccine from the clinic’s two Indigenous immunizers, Rachel and Stephanie in a space that is private and can accommodate different Indigenous traditional cultural practices, including smudging.
“We are committed to strengthening our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Grand River Hospital; this work is ongoing and incredibly important. Through the assistance and expertise of Dave and his team at SOAHAC, it is making a difference at the vaccine clinic,” says Ron Gagnon, Grand River Hospital president and CEO. “We hope that this is a partnership that will continue as we work to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion across our hospital through planning, policies and processes.”
“These kinds of inclusive changes can have a positive impact on the entire community,” says Dave. “There is a dire need to vaccinate the Region’s Indigenous population and we need to acknowledge and address the barriers they may experience in accessing vaccines. Here in Waterloo Region, this work is helping to address hesitancy among the Indigenous community. If organizations truly want to make a difference in Indigenous health, it is important to engage members of our community to create safe spaces and consider practices that are patient and culture focused.”