Interior Health says building trust the key to getting Indigenous Communities to get vaccinated

Interior Health is working to build trust within Indigenous Communities so more will get vaccinated.

Dr. Andy Delli Pizzi says rebuilding trust is to “acknowledge that colonial policies” have played an impact on the health of Indigenous Communities, and are “the cause” of different health outcomes. Leading to Indigenous Communities at higher risk for communicable diseases.

“The differences in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians were due to colonial pracitces,” Dr. Delli Pizzi says. “We know that communicable diseases, such as influenza, can impact Indigenous Communities more severely. Indigenous Communities are important. It’s important they receive vaccines. We feel that Indigenous People are at higher risk because of both colonial policies, and lack of social protection that those colonial policies have left.”

Dr. Delli Pizzi says that taking the extra steps to ensure that Indigenous Communities are protected through vaccinations will help “close the gap” in health. Interior Health is keen on working with communities and community leadership to develop trust in the vaccinations, and trust that Interior Health aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation’s call for equitable healthcare access.