The Biskinik spoke with Cynthia Doane, Doctor of Pharmacy, and manager of the Covid-19 vaccination clinic for the Choctaw Q Nation Health Services Authority in Talihina, & . Doane answered our questions about the importance of being vaccinated A against Covid-19. Why is it so important to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

“COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness. Getting the vaccine will help you, as well as others in your household and community by creating herd immunity. Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools (masks, social distancing, and vaccine) we have available, and the vaccine is a great tool that we should take advantage of to help stop the spread of this disease. The higher the vaccination rate, the faster it is to get rid of the pandemic." Where can our readers get the vaccine?

“We have the vaccine available here at the hospital, as well as all of our outlying clinics. We currently offer the Pfizer vaccine only at the hospital location. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are offered at the outlying clinics. Most communities are also offer- ing the vaccine at local health departments, as well as community and retail pharma- cies.” (NOTE: You do not need to be a patient or Native American to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from the Choctaw Nation.) Is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine safe to take since it was put on hold for a short time?

“Yes. The pause has been lifted from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and it has been approved and deemed safe, per the CDC, to give to our patients again.” Are we offering all three vaccines, and can someone choose which one they would prefer to receive when making their appointment?

“We do offer all three, but each clinic may only carry certain brands. For example, if you want to get the Pfizer brand, you have to come to Talihina to receive that one.”

Why do some people not trust the vaccine? What are the conse- quences of not getting it?

“Many people believe the vaccine was developed too fast to be safe. However, though it was developed quickly, steps for safety were not skipped. The vaccines were made using processes that have been developed and tested over many years. Safety is top priority and the benefit of getting vaccinated far outweighs the risk of contracting the virus and the possibility of potentially being hospitalized. Clinical trials for all vaccines must first show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be authorized or approved for use, including the COVID-19 vaccines that we are using today. Like the flu shot, many people think the vaccine will give them COVID-19. However, this vaccine is not a live virus. It will not give you COVID-19. You may experience some side effects, but that is a natural immune response, which is teaching your body to rec- ognize and fight the coronavirus if you come in contact with it. Side effects only last a couple of days if you have them at all. This is much better than having the illness itself. By not getting the vaccine, one could be a carrier of the disease, exposing their loved ones that may have pre-existing conditions. A carrier is a person that may actually have the disease but be asymptomatic, having no symptoms at all. Because they do not have any symptoms, they think that they are well and go around their loved ones that may have preexisting conditions such as COPD, or cancer, or an illness where they do not need to be sick, and unknowingly pass the disease to them. Unfortunately, this happens often. Many people have given blood and been checked for immunities and it shows Photos by Chris Jennings they had the virus and never even knew they have had it.” Top, Participants on the 2021 Trail of tears Walk had the opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Bottom, Beth Ragan places Band-Aids on Grace Noley's arm after she Can I get COVID-19 after I have been vaccinated? received the COVID-19 vaccine at the Trail of Tears Walk June