A clinic offered COVID-19 vaccines to Native Americans and other indigenous people living in Indiana on Saturday. About 70 people received a shot in Indianapolis.
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians worked with other organizations including the American Indian Center of Indiana to distribute the vaccines.
Health officials say encouraging vaccination for native peoples is particularly urgent because their communities have been devastated by the virus.
“We have the highest rate of death from COVID-19 out of all ethnic groups,” said Carolina Castoreno-Santana, the executive director of the American Indian Center of Indiana. “So, there was really a need and a desire to be able to make this vaccine accessible to our community.”
The Pokagon Band numbers more than 5,800 citizens living in Michigan and Indiana.
The clinic will offer the second vaccine dose on Saturday, April 24.
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