AKWESASNE – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) and their counterpart in Quebec the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) issued a statement on Wednesday, Aug. 11 urging their residents to get vaccinated amid fears of the potent Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus.
The Delta variant is seen as being highly contagious and is driving a wave of new COVID-19 infections worldwide.
“What we are learning is that individuals who may have previously been strong enough to fight COVID-19 off as a regular flu-like cold are now experiencing more serious illness and hospitalization due to the Delta variant’s strength,” said the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in a press release. “We are emphatically advising all community members 12 and over to access the best defense there is against this disease – vaccination.”
Both the MCA and SRMT believe that vaccines will help avoid a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We need our community members to weigh facts against fears,” said the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council in the joint press release. “We sincerely understand the emotions behind vaccine hesitation, but we can’t emphasize enough that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any risks, and that your chance of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 is the reality.”
The SRMT and MCA are holding vaccine clinics by appointment every Wednesday.
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe – Register by calling: 518-333-0230
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne – Register by calling: 613-575-2341 ext. 3220