Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc has received COVID-19 vaccine doses and will be vaccinating its membership starting on Wednesday.

Chief Rosanne Casimir says this week, between Wednesday and Friday vaccines are reserved for elders aged 60 and older. And starting next Monday, all band members who live on reserve aged 18 and older will be able to receive a vaccine dose.

The band also says members who live off-reserve can start getting vaccinated as of March 26.

“I think this is differently going to make a huge difference in everyone’s day to day lives. For one thing, it definitely gives us all hope that we are going to see some brighter days ahead with increased family gatherings,” Casimir tells NL News, alluding to the new guideline issued last week by Dr. Bonnie Henry, that groups of up to 10 people can gather outdoors.

“Being able to have even outdoor barbecues or even limited family over is something that is going to be more than welcome. And then with the vaccinations, we know that they’re going to save lives. We’ve all been impacted one way or the other, with the loss of a family member or an elder.”

Vaccine appointments will be held at the Moccasin Square Garden, and band members can call the Q’wemtsin Health Society to book an appointment at 250-314-6732. The band says walk-ins will not be allowed and vaccine appointments have to be made in advance.

While TteS membership will all have the chance to be vaccinated as of March 26, TteS staff who are non members will be able to get a vaccine dose starting on March 29, as long as there is enough vaccine supply.

TteS adds that non band members who live in Sun Rivers or one of the mobile home parks on reserve will have to book a vaccine appointment through Interior Health when it is their turn.