Siksika Public Health
Oki! Siksika Health’s CDC team promotes healthy behaviours and safe, healthy environments. The CDC team keeps track of health trends, and responds to new public health threats. The CDC team works with Indigenous Services Canada to help prevent and control disease in Siksika Nation. The CDC team is part of Siksika’s Community Health department.
To contact the Siksika CDC team, please call 403-734-5720 and leave a voicemail.
Hours of operation are 9:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatment
Siksika Health Services strongly encourages Nation members to receive all COVID-19 vaccine doses they are eligible for as soon as possible.
COVID-19 immunization is available for Siksika Nation members, and for community members from the surrounding areas on a walk-in basis at the Siksika Health & Wellness Centre on Monday-Friday from 9:00am-7:00pm. No appointments are required.
The COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months – 5 years is available by appointment only. Appointments can be booked by calling Siksika Community Health reception at 403-734-5624.
About the Bivalet booster
The newest COVID vaccines, known as “bivalent vaccines” now offer coverage against the Omicron variant and are more effective than previous vaccines at preventing illness against the newer strains.
This is why it is so important to have “booster” vaccines for full coverage against current strains of the virus. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines trigger a stronger immune response and provide additional protection against both Omicron and the original SARS-CoV-2 virus strain.
All immunizations can cause some side effects, because they stimulate the immune system. Most side effects like aches and pains, fever, headache, feeling very tired or weakness go away.
Medication:
Early outpatient treatment for COVID-19 is available for high risk individuals who have contracted COVID-19. This medication treatment can help reduce the severity of COVID-19 infection and the chance of requiring hospitalization.
Symptomatic individuals with a positive COVID test and any one of the following conditions should call the CDC team for advice:
- Unvaccinated or received only 1 or 2 doses of COVID vaccine;
- Diabetes;
- Obesity;
- Chronic kidney disease;
- Congestive heart failure;
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma;
- Immunocompromised (such as from chemotherapy, prednisone, or medications for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriasis);
- Organ transplant recipients; or
- Worked at or resides in a supported living facility (such as Elder’s lodge)
- Home COVID testing should be done at the start of any symptoms, as treatment usually has to be started within 5 days of symptom onset, if eligible.
Anyone who is a close contact of COVID, who develops symptoms but tests negative at home, and has one of the conditions listed above, should also call CDC for advice.
Testing:
COVID PCR testing will be available, as required, at the Siksika Health & Wellness Centre between 9:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday.
Those with new or worsening symptoms of any kind should continue to stay home, self-isolate and test for COVID-19. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 with a home rapid test are also encouraged to isolate until symptoms subside, and contact Siksika’s CDC Team at 403-734-5720 for additional support and guidance.
Home COVID-19 rapid testing can help identify and prevent spread of COVID-19. Rapid test kits are available for Siksika Nation members free-of-charge at locations across Siksika:
- Siksika Health & Wellness Centre
- M&R (Boy Chief Trading Post)
- Petro-Canada
- Siksika Trail Market
Siksika Health Services strongly encourages Nation members to receive a Flu shot if they are eligible for as soon as possible.
Influenza immunization is important this season due to surging numbers.
Getting your influenza immunization every season is the single most effective way to protect yourself from influenza.
All matapiiks six months of age & older should be immunized each season. Protect yourself, your family, and your community. Get immunized!
Siksika Health Services will be increasing its Flu clinic hours.
Flu vaccines are available for Siksika Nation members and community members from the surrounding areas at the Siksika Health & Wellness Centre on a walk-in basis, Monday-Friday from 9:00am-7:00pm. Influenza and COVID-19 bivalent vaccines can be given at the same time.
We are ensuring our flu clinics can operate safely accounting for COVID-19. Siksika Health Services will ensure proper infection, prevention, and control throughout the duration of the flu clinic.
Expected Side Effects:
All immunizations can cause some side effects, because they stimulate the immune system. Most side effects like aches and pains, fever, headache, feeling very tired or weakness go away after a few days.
- Mild side effects are expected. Subsequent doses are still required to get the best protection.
- Everyone’s experience with getting the flu vaccine may be different; just because one person experiences certain side effects does not necessarily mean that another person will as well.
