OTTAWA -- Ottawa’s Wabano Centre has started a three-day COVID-19 vaccination clinic for Indigenous elders.
Indigenous community members who are 70 years of age or older and living in Ottawa can now receive their shot at the centre until Feb. 20.
The centre has teamed up with Ottawa Public Health in hopes of vaccinating 90 people per day.
On Thursday, many Indigenous elders were thrilled to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"I can’t believe it, and it happened this fast," Zita Brascoupe told CTV News Ottawa after receiving the first dose.
"I mean how fortunate I am to be a status Indian and to be able to get this so early, I thought it would be months and months down the road, I’m really excited."
Margarete Nicholson, who also got her shot, said she’s been waiting for this moment for a long time.
"I feel happier and content now, I fee lucky," Nicholson said.
The COVID-19 vaccination clinic is operating by appointment only and will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. To book an appointment, you can call the Wabano Centre at 613-748-0657, ext. 456 or 465.
The centre says the next group of Indigenous community members to receive their shots will be those 55 to 69 years old. The centre is not yet booking appointments for this age group.
Indigenous adults are one of the priority groups for Phase 1 of Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination plan.
