Protecting Our Relatives During COVID-19
A message from NCTCC Board of Directors Chairperson
Elders, please get vaccinated.
There are too many tears in our homelands for us to not take care of ourselves. Do not be afraid.
We must continue to show our families and villages the way forward. Continue to lead the way, protect our families and villages.
Hon. Abby Abinanti
Chief Judge, Yurok Tribal Court
Chairperson, Northern California Tribal Court Coalition
Why Get Vaccinated?
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect against COVID-19.
If you have any underlying conditions, the vaccine can protect you from serious illness, hospitalization, or death.
Vaccination lowers your chance of spreading COVID-19, so you can protect your loved ones and community members who are at high risk or who are unable to get vaccinated.
Missing work, hospitalization, and funerals are costly. Some insurers may require unvaccinated people to pay some or all hospitalization costs. Getting vaccinated can reduce unnecessary medical expenses.
While fully vaccinated people are not guaranteed immunity to the disease, being vaccinated can reduce the possibility of getting severely ill with COVID-19.
By getting vaccinated you can protect your family and yourself from much unnecessary suffering.
Find a vaccination site near you now
Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe?
The vaccines are safe.
These vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Serious health problems are rare. Learn more about safety here.
You will not get COVID-19 from the vaccine, because none of the authorized vaccines contain the live COVID-19 virus. Learn more facts about COVID-19 vaccines here.
The vaccines are effective.
Johns Hopkins Medicine considers all three vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen) to be highly effective against COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. This includes the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, whose administration had been briefly paused to investigate possible side effects. Learn more about vaccine effectiveness here.
The FDA has fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 years and older.
A message from Megan Siaosi, NCTCC Board of Directors Secretary
I got my COVID-19 shot to protect our elders and more vulnerable populations within the community, including my children who are too young to get their vaccine.
Megan Siaosi, NCTCC Board of Directors Secretary and Bear River Band Tribal Court Director
COVID-19 vaccines and youth.
16 years and older
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has full FDA approval for individuals 16 and above.
12-15 years old
The FDA has authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for children between 12 and 15 years old.
5-11 years old
On September 20, 2021 Pfizer announced that test results show the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is safe for children between 5 and 11 years old. Pfizer intends to ask the FDA for emergency authorization for use with children in this age group. Read more here.
Under 5 years old
No vaccine is authorized for emergency use with children under 5 years old. However, Pfizer continues to test vaccines for children under 5.
Find a vaccination site near you now
A message from Michelle Krieger, NCTCC Board of Directors Treasurer
I got vaccinated because I want to protect my health and the health of those around me. I want to avoid passing on a potentially deadly disease to someone who is at greater risk than I am. By getting vaccinated, I am making a choice to protect the health of my community.
Michelle Krieger, NCTCC Board of Directors Treasurer and Hoopa Valley Tribal Court Victim Advocacy Program
Some community members have higher risk of severe illness.
Medical research has determined that people who have underlying conditions have a higher risk of death, severe sickness, and increased long-term effects when infected with the COVID-19 virus.
This research also shows that being fully vaccinated is the best way to reduce the risk of severe illness if you become infected with COVID-19.
What increases my risk of severe illness?
Adults 65 and older, children under 12, pregnant women, and people with the following medical conditions have increased risks:
• HIV infection
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Dementia
• Down syndrome
• Liver disease
• Smoking
• Overweight
• Obese
• Heart conditions
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic lung diseases
• Substance use disorders
• Immunocompromised
• Sickle cell disease
• Thalassemia
• Organ transplant
• Blood stem cell transplant
Do Vaccines Protect Against the Delta Variant?
The best protection against the Delta variant is being fully vaccinated.
Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of the COVID-19 virus are emerging.
The Delta variant is a mutation of the COVID-19 virus that spreads easier and is more infectious than earlier forms of the virus that cause COVID-19.
Even though you are vaccinated, you can still get sick from the Delta variant. However, the CDC has stated that the Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines reduce the risk of contracting the Delta variant and protect against getting severely ill from the Delta variant.
Find a vaccination location
Call 1-800-232-0233
Text your zip code to 438829
Visit vaccines.gov
Getting Vaccinations at Home
What if I am unable to get to a vaccination location?
In-home and mobile vaccinations may be available to you. If you have difficulty reaching a vaccination site, call your doctor or health care provider or contact one of the services below to see if you can get an in-home vaccination.
• Medicare patients 1-800-633-4227
• State health department or call 211
• DIAL 1-888-677-1199
• Services for older adults 1-800-677-1116
Protecting our most vulnerable community members
Even if you are vaccinated, you can still get sick from COVID-19 and pass the virus to others.
The CDC recommends continuing to wear a mask indoors in public if you or a member of your household has an increased risk of COVID-19 infection or someone in your home is unvaccinated.
Following safety practices to reduce the possibility of infecting people at high risk:
• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live with you.
• Avoid crowded areas or poorly ventilated spaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when you cannot wash your hands.
Find a vaccination site near you now
Emergency Preparedness
Reducing the impact of wildfire and smoke inhalation
Smoke inhalation can weaken your lungs and cause you to experience more severe symptoms if you become ill with COVID-19.
When wildfires occur, emergency services are strained. Planning ahead will help you reduce the impact of wildfire on yourself and your family.
The CDC recommends you take these actions to reduce your risk during wildfires:
• Get vaccinated as soon as you can.
• Ask your physician to help you make a plan to protect yourself during wildfire.
• Store a 7 to 10-day supply of prescription medicines in a waterproof, childproof container to take with you if you evacuate.
• Limit your exposure to smoke by purchasing a non-ozone emitting air filter.
• Seek shelter in cleaner air spaces, limit outdoor exercise, and choose lower-intensity activities.
• Include mask, gloves, hand sanitizer, hand wipes, antibacterial spray, and your medications in your go-bag.
COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 diagnostic testing is done to find out if you’re currently infected with COVID-19. Two types of tests are approved for for diagnosing COVID-19: molecular and antigen
Some people who are infected with the COVID-19 virus may not have any symptoms. But they can still pass the virus to others.
In some areas of the U.S., testing is available to asymptomatic people. If you test positive, follow the CDC guidelines for self-isolation. This will help prevent infecting others, including those who are at high risk.
A message from Joseph Giovannetti, Ph.D.
If you have symptoms (there are 14 possible), get tested immediately. I waited 4 days too long. Within 9 days I was on a ventilator. Eleven days later I was dying, so weak I couldn’t initiate my own breath.
Due to my wife’s advocacy, a traveling acute care M.D. from Houston, Dr. Amede, determined from my current x-ray that my lungs were plugged with bacterial pneumonia, which he then treated with antibiotics. He then performed a broncosopy and saved my life. Dr. Amede told Carla “this is a procedure that is not used enough with COVID-19 patients and they die needlessly.”
Joseph Giovannetti, Enrolled, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation and COVID-19 survivor.
COVID-19 Symptoms
You may experience mild to severe symptoms if you have COVID-19 including:
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste/smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Nausea/vomiting
• Diarrhea
Life Threatening Symptoms
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately:
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds
• Severe/constant pain or pressure in the chest
• Severe difficulty breathing
• New disorientation or confusion
• Unconscious or very difficult to wake
• New or increased slurred speech or difficulty speaking
• New or worsening seizures
• Signs of low blood pressure
• Dehydration
Find a testing site near you now
Quarantine and Isolation
Protecting others and yourself when you are ill
How to Quarantine
If you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, quarantine yourself. You should:
• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with the infected person.
• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms.
• Stay away from others in your home.
• Monitor your health for 14 days after exposure.
• If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact your doctor.
How to Isolate
Isolation is used to separate people infected with COVID-19 from those who are not infected.
• Stay home until it’s safe to be around others.
• Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
• Stay in a specific “sick room” or area.
• Use a separate bathroom if you can.
• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
• Wear a mask when around other people.
• Monitor your symptoms.
• If you experience any life-threatening symptoms seek emergency medical care immediately.