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Vaccinating in a Remote Village


((PKG)) A REMOTE VILLAGE GETS COVID VACCINE
((TRT: 10:54))
((Topic Banner: Vaccinating in Remote))
((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Map: Seldovia, Alaska))
((Main Characters: 2 female))
((Sub Characters: 3 male; 2 female))
((NATS))
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village Tribe))
Hi, this is Deborah Coila from Seldovia Village Tribe and we're
wondering if we're going to be flying out this morning to Seldovia?
((Voice from Telephone))
So, I have heard from my pilots and they say we are a go for the
nine o'clock.
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village Tribe))
Okay, all right. Bye.
((Voice from Telephone))
Bye.
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village Tribe))
All right, we're flying. It'll be a bumpy ride.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
It's a little breezy but I think it's
doable.
((NATS))
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village Tribe))
I’ll take this out. You can’t tilt
it.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
I'm taking two different vaccines. The Pfizer one doesn't like to be
tipped over so, we kind of reuse our boxes. So, we're actually
doing first shots today for about 30 people and then we're doing
second shots for about six people today. I don’t think this is going
to fit,in.
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village Tribe))
We're going to go to this beautiful little city called Seldovia. The
only way to get to there is by airplane or boat. They're expecting,
I think, seven-foot [2 m] waves this morning, so we will not be
going on the
boat.
((Locator: Homer))
((NATS: Deborah Coila; Candace Kreger))
Four thirty.
Yeah.
Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day.
It’s supposed to be clear and sunny.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
The first time we went over, we were really scared that if we
shook it, it was going to damage the vaccine. So, I held it in my
lap on the boat ride the whole way
there.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village Tribe))
Okay.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Some vials have 11 doses. So, we're trying to at least get an
11th dose out of one of our vials today, so we can give one more
person a vaccine.
((NATS: Candace Kreger; Darrel Bakk))
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
I need Band-Aids. I need alcohol pads and I need gloves
yet.
((Darrel Bakk, Certified Medical
Assistant))
What
size?
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
I don’t care. I’m not picky.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Alaska healthcare is totally different than anywhere else in the
United States. Here in Alaska, we have a lot of remote villages.
And so, Seldovia is one, and with it being remote and no access
to anything but a clinic, there's only been just a couple cases
of COVID here in Seldovia. So, we're trying to really get
everybody immunized and keep COVID out of the remote village,
because if somebody needs hospitalization, they have to
get medevac’d [emergency evacuation of the sick or
wounded] out of here, either by plane, by boat, whatever it takes
to get them out of here. So, that's why we really want to get
everybody covered with the vaccine here.
((NATS: Candace Kreger; Joseph Zapotosky))
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Hi, Joe.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
Hi, how are you?
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Good. You can have a
seat.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
I was wondering if you guys are going to get over here today.
Pretty windy over there.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
I was a little worried about the wind but,
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
It was 28, gusting to 28.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
It was a little bumpy.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
Yes, it was.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Not as bumpy as the boat ride would have been. There was no
boats this morning.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
I think this afternoon it’s supposed to lay down.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Yeah.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
So, I think you guys are good this afternoon.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Oh, yeah. I think it’ll be
fine.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
You won't be staying overnight, will
you?
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
No. Well, unless I can't get out of here, I might be. It wouldn't be
the first time that's happened. So, we're going to do the Moderna
vaccine today. One, two, three.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
Well, what took you so long?
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
I know.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
Yeah, I had a little reservation at first, you know, but now I'm okay
with it.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
So, I am going to keep an eye on you for 15 minutes before
you go, just to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction,
okay? So, I have a chair out here for
you.
((Joseph Zapotosky,
Patient))
We told each one of our 12 grandkids that they could come up
when they reached the age of 10 years old, except this year we
had to cancel out and, you know, our 10-year-old
granddaughter cried, you know, when she found out she couldn't
come to Alaska and go fishing with us and what not, you know,
and hopefully, we'll get this thing over, behind
us.
((Marilyn Zapotosky,
Patient))
You didn’t get my other shoe, and Darrel came, and Darrel came.
My tennis shoe was in the back seat. And then Darrel gave us
that paperwork and I started filling out that paperwork. Then
he says, ‘Oh, I can take one of you.’ and I said, ‘Okay, I'll take
it.’ Well, I can't fall on the ice. I got one cleat anyway.
I called the clinic for another reason and then I said that, ‘Can we
get on a list for the vaccine?’ And they said, ‘Yeah, we’ve already
moved you over to the 65 and older.’ So, we didn't have no
problem.
((NATS: Darrel Bakk; John Crawford))
((Darrel Bakk, Certified Medical
Assistant))
All right, Norm. Have a seat in there. Take your shirt
off.
How’re you doing, John?
((John Crawford,
Patient))
Doing good.
I see. She’s got to keep an eye on you in case you fall over and
roll around on the floor there. She’ll holler
for help.
((John Crawford,
Patient))
Yup.
((Darlene Crawford,
Patient)) I
wasn't going to get one at first. We haven't gone any place in a
year, more than a year. We've been staying
home. But eventually, I want to go to Anchorage, go to
Costco.
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village Tribe))
Here goes.
((Darlene Crawford,
Patient))
Okay.
((Darlene Crawford,
Patient))
You know, they're talking about giving you an inoculation card or
something that you have to show. And in case that becomes a
reality, it's to be able to do whatever I want to do. That's the only
reason I got it, not because I'm afraid I'm going to get
it.
((John Crawford,
Patient))
I was called up, said they had some. So, I decided I’d get the
vaccination. We’ve been getting them for 78 years,
I guess. So, another one must be going to do some good, for
someone.
((NATS: Edith (Sunni) Hilts; Rodney Hilts; Darrel Bakk))
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
We’re here to get our
vaccine.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
We’re getting our vaccinations,
yeah.
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
Can you sign that honey, right beside my name?
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
Just beside your
name?
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
Beside my name.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
But you didn’t leave me enough room. He’s the dog that has to
go anyplace you go.
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts, Patient))
What are you doing? It’s not the easiest thing to do your
paperwork in the car.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
Especially not with that thing on your
face.
((Darrel Bakk, Certified Medical
Assistant))
Hey, Rod.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
How’re you doing?
((Darrel Bakk, Certified Medical
Assistant))
Good.
((NATS))
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
Vaccination day. Thank you.
My name is Sunni and I'm 82. We came here in 1970. We've
raised seven children here, our first five and then two
grandsons. And we love it
here.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
We graduated college in California and decided to go to Alaska
for one year. So, but that was 50 years ago. I don't know what
you say about that, but we're old Alaskans now.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
You can come in and have a seat.
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
I'm feeling good and I'm going to feel good. I know I'm not going
to have any bad reaction or anything go wrong.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Which arm would we like to do
today?
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
This one, and if you would do me a favor and count to three?
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Count to
three? Okay.
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
I had too many children and I did it that way too
long.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
That’s okay. Okay, one, two, three. Was it that
bad?
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
No.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Okay.
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
I didn’t feel a
thing.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Good. Would you like a sticker that says you got your vaccine
today?
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
Sure. Thank
you.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Alright. So, we'll get you a seat out
here.
((Edith (Sunni) Hilts,
Patient))
Okay, honey. It's your turn.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
I don’t want to go in there.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
You can come in here and have a seat.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
Okay.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
How do you feel?
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
How do I
feel?
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
How do you
feel?
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
Oh, I don’t know. I'm fine.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
You’re going to get in trouble.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
I know. It’s my favorite thing to do.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Alright, then you are good to go and we will see you back in one
month for your second shot, okay?
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
Okay.
((Darrel Bakk, Certified Medical
Assistant))
See you, Rod. Have a good day.
((Rodney Hilts,
Patient))
Okay.
((NATS))
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village
Tribe))
It's time to go
home.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
We did 37 vaccines today in Seldovia. And then, we’ll be back in
a month for second doses for those people. Weather permitting,
we will be back in a month.
((NATS))
All right, Candy and Deb.
((Deborah Coila, Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator,
Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Yup.
((Candace Kreger, Licensed Practical Nurse, Seldovia Village
Tribe))
Isn’t this how you normally go to work?
((NATS/MUSIC))

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