'Vaxxfest' brings in influencers, doctors to boost Alberta's Indigenous immunization rates
An event hoping to boost vaccination rates in Alberta's Indigenous youth will be held this weekend.
'Vaxxfest' is a three-day push aiming to attract young Albertans to facilities in Morley and Calgary where vaccines will be available.
It's being billed as a festival-like experience where those on site will also be able to meet Indigenous social media influencers like Fawn Wood, Dallas Waskahat, Notorious Cree and Kendra Jessie.
First and second doses will be available.
The festivities will be hosted by The Power of 100, a group that hopes to achieve a 100 per cent COVID-19 vaccination rate in all of Canada's First Nations.
Group founder Dr. Lana Potts is a Blackfoot family physician from Treaty 7. She'll be administering shots over the weekend
"First Nations Peoples are impacted by the deadly virus 13 times more than non-Indigenous people,” Potts said. “'Vaxxfest' aims to protect the herd by encouraging youth to get behind their elders, 95 per cent of whom are fully vaccinated.”
First Nations, specifically ones in Alberta and Saskatchewan, have been hit very hard by COVID-19.
"The choice to get vaccinated is an individual decision that affects everyone and the overall health of our people," family physician Dr. James Makokis said. “This is why we encourage our young people who are the most at risk to show up this weekend and get vaccinated. If you’re already vaccinated, bring your unvaccinated friends and join us.”
MacBooks, iPads, $100 gift cards, makeup and PlayStation giveaways will be happening throughout the weekend for those who receive a dose.
All participants will also receive a goodie bag and get to watch a live DJ perform while they eat food offered on-site.
'Vaxxfest' is the second event on Stoney Nakoda First Nation that has used well-known Canadians to encourage vaccination.
In June, Olympians Clara Hughes and Beckie Scott rolled up their sleeves for a similar cause.
Hughes received her second dose during the event, and told CTV News the push was "so special."
Friday's event will be held at the Chiniki Rodeo Grounds on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. It will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The festivities shift to the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino on Saturday and Sunday.
Vaxxfest will take place there between 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Attendees will be required to keep socially distanced and wear masks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.