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Navajo Nation Prepares For COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Courtesy

Navajo Nation President and Navajo Department of Health Executive Dr. Jill Jim spoke to the CEO of drug-maker Pfizer Wednesday about the company’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Tribal officials are developing a plan to distribute the drugs on the reservation when they become available. About 150 members of the Navajo Nation volunteered for the vaccine trials.

"Until a safe vaccine is widely available, we have to continue to fight this virus together and the best way to do that is by staying home as much as possible. The safest place during this pandemic is at home here on the Navajo Nation, stay local, stay safe,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The tribe reported nearly 200 new known cases of coronavirus and five more deaths Wednesday as a virus surge has impacted the Navajo Nation in recent weeks. More than 18,000 people have tested positive for COVID on the reservation and almost 700 have died since the pandemic began.

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