IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2021
Pfizer Vaccine Provided to Fort Hall Youth 16–18-year-olds
Fort Hall- One of the most important tools of our fight against COVID-19 is the COVID-19 vaccine. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health and Human Services and the Fort Hall Indian Health Service Unit have partnered together to offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to students aged 16-18 years old.
Vaccinating young people protects them, our elders, and other at-risk people in our community. To make this convenient for families, we will be offering this during school hours at two local high schools- Shoshone-Bannock Jr/Sr High and Blackfoot High School.
The vaccination team will be at the Shoshone-Bannock High School on April 15th from 1-3 PM and at the Blackfoot High School on April 22nd from 1-3 PM to give the first doses.
Packets with sign-up information and parental/guardian consent will be sent home from school with students this week. The forms must be filled out entirely and signed by a parent or guardian for your student to receive the vaccine. SBHS students will need to have them turned in by Tuesday, April 12th and BHS students will need to have them turned in by Tuesday, April 20th.
Because the Pfizer vaccine is frozen at ultracold temperatures, we have to know ahead of time how many doses to thaw out. Please turn in the paperwork even if you don’t make the deadline since there may be extra doses at the end if students don’t show up. The Pfizer vaccine is a 2-shot series. The second shot will be offered to the students at both schools 3 weeks after the first vaccine is given.
We would like to thank the Fort Hall Business Council for making all tribal members who complete both doses of this vaccine eligible for the $50 gift card, this will be available to the 16-18-year-olds who get both the first and second Pfizer shots. We would also like to thank the Southeastern Idaho Public Health Department for making the Pfizer vaccine available to us, allowing us to vaccinate our youth who were too young for the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
A flyer will be sent home to all the students this week and posted on the Tribes Facebook page (search “shobantribes”.) Please contact Tribal Health and Human Services (208) 238-5453 or Indian Health Services (208) 238-5427 with any questions about vaccination at the high schools.