- Details
- By National Indian Health Board
- The COVID-19 weekly death rate for the AI/AN community fell immediately after vaccinations began to be administered. The AI/AN weekly death rate peaked at 311 on December 19, 2020. This date coincides with when Pfizer and Moderna were both granted emergency use authorization. For the following six months, weekly Covid-19 deaths in Indian Country decreased to a low of 12 on June 26, 2021.
- Weekly deaths began to increase again after June 26, 2021 although they have never reached the peak of 311 from pre-vaccinated times. When the Delta variant was introduced into the community, weekly deaths in Indian Country began to rise and peaked on September 11, 2021 at 160, approximately half of the pre-vaccinated maximum weekly death toll.
- While the weekly death rates have slowed down since the beginning of COVID-19, many Tribal citizens are still dying weekly of COVID-19. To stop this trend, show your Acts of Love to your community by:
- Getting your COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot
- Continuing to wear a mask or face covering over your nose and mouth in indoor public places
- Practicing physical distancing (stay six feet apart from others)
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (or use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available)
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At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
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