‘We need to be where people are’: Mâmawêyatitân Centre providing vaccinations in North Central

Pop-up vaccination centres are doing wonders for people in communities that don’t have many options.

The Mâmawêyatitân Centre, located in the heart of North Central, has been offering COVID-19 vaccinations for many people in the neighbourhood.

Heather Sinclair-Birns with the Saskatchewan Health Authority has worked closely with the centre’s vaccine rollout.

She says the Mâmawêyatitân name, which translates in Cree to “let’s be all together,” is very fitting for the space that is bringing people together in the community.

“A combination of individuals who live in this community and in this area are able to access this space to get vaccinated. They may not be able to get to the drive-thru,” Sinclair-Birns said. “This space is a safe space for a lot of people in this neighbourhood.

“We feel really strongly that we need to be visible in this community. It’s a real priority for us that we need to be where people are.”

The Carmichael Outreach, All Nations Hope and the Newo Yotina Friendship Centre have all had great interest and vaccine uptake, according to Sinclair-Birns.

She says the centres do so much more than offer their typical services.

“I think it really speaks to us going to where people are going, where people feel safe,” she said. “The people going to these centres have built trusting relationships with a lot of our staff that go there regularly.”

Last week, the Mâmawêyatitân Centre had more than 400 vaccinations done on site, including both first and second doses.

“This centre really is a hub for the community,” Sinclair-Birns said. “We’re really excited that we’re able to provide that opportunity to really advocate for people who haven’t had first doses yet to come on down.

“People can walk here, they can ride their bike — it’s a familiar space for a lot of people.”

As the province pushes for more people to roll up their sleeves, pop-up centres like the one at Mâmawêyatitân will be essential for meeting Saskatchewan’s 70 per cent target of vaccinations to move to Step Three of the Re-Opening Roadmap.

“It’s about just having that opportunity to have discussions, to answer people’s questions, to give them the information that they need in order to understand more about the vaccine,” Sinclair-Birns said.

“Let’s all be together because really, that is one of our end goals in regards to moving forward with people being vaccinated.”

In Regina, a pop-up clinic was held Wednesday on Scarth Street at the farmer’s market. Others are set for this week at the Cornwall Centre and the South Leisure Centre.

On Saturday, there are to be clinics at Wascana Park and Regina Beach. One also is set for field level at Mosaic Stadium, where people can meet Gainer and Saskatchewan Roughriders alumni while getting their first dose.

A schedule of the clinics can be found here.