100,101 Navajos Fully Vaccinated

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation said it was “pleased” to announce that more than 100,000 residents had been fully vaccinated.

The Navajo Area Indian Health Service said since Thursday 247,165 total vaccine doses were received and 225,819, or more than 91% had been administered.

“This is a great achievement for the Navajo people and our health care workers. Well over half of the adult population on the Navajo Nation is fully vaccinated. If you consider only the individuals who live on the Navajo Nation and receive their health care service from the Navajo Area IHS, that percentage increases to over 70-percent,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said. “Our next goal is to reach a 75-percent vaccination rate before we consider reopening our Nation to visitors.”

#NavajoNation now has over 100,000 fully vaccinated individuals pic.twitter.com/178JwUNauM

— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) May 7, 2021

Despite the success, Nez urged residents to plan their vaccinations. “Community immunity is our goal,” he said.

The Navajo Nation spreads across three states in the Four Corners area including southwestern Utah.

On Thursday Navajo health officials reported 13 new cases and no new deaths. The drop in cases and deaths has been dramatic on the reservation since vaccinations started.

Drive-through appointments were still available and people can sign up here.

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How do I prevent it?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.