BLACK LAKE FIRST NATION — The Athabasca Health Authority is warning people to beware of fake news, after a video circulated online that claimed residents are being forced out of their homes and into the woods to avoid receiving the vaccine.
The video, recorded by The Real Pat King and posted on Facebook on Oct. 17, called the COVID-19 vaccine “deadly” and promoted alternative drugs such as the dewormer ivermectin to treat the virus, while saying that the Royal Canadian Air Force are forcing residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and locking them up in school gymnasiums.
Both the chief and council of Black Lake refuted the claims.
The Athabasca Health Authority posted a statement on Oct. 18, clarifying that there is no dire situation in Black Lake and that they can confirm no one is hiding nor “forced to the bush for avoiding the COVID-19 vaccine shots.” Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine remains voluntary.
“It’s false information, false news and people are basically biting into it,” said Allen Adam, the Health Authority’s CAO in an interview.
Adam said the military hasn’t had a presence near the community since over half a decade ago when they assisted with wildfire suppression near La Ronge.
“I think that they’ve got nothing else better to do so. ‘Okay, let’s pick on a community today’ and unfortunately Black Lake just kind of came up on whatever radar it is and they decided to attack it,” Adam said.
“It’s not news. Just look at your sources, look at the people, the woman that was on for the COVID outbreak thing – we don’t even know who she is.”
As of Oct. 18, communities in the Athabasca Health Authority have had no active COVID-19 cases for the prior three days, including Black Lake. The Health Authority said that the “community is calm with no reported concerns” and “everyone is doing fine to the best of our knowledge.”
The American FDA has warned that currently available data do not show ivermectin is effective against COVID-19. This is after the administration received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention, including hospitalization, after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for livestock.
Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms, head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.
