Weeks 2&3 and Glacier

Weeks two and three taught us valuable hands-on public health lessons about access to care, barriers, and patient motivation. Our week 2 started off with and would be defined by COVID-19 vaccine clinics. The tribe council the week of our arrival approved giving tribe members $50 reimbursement per shot for receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated individuals could receive a compensation of up to $100. Additionally, if the tribe achieved 70% vaccination status, each member would receive $500. Given the financial incentive, the reservation was suddenly met with a huge burden from unvaccinated individuals requesting to be immunized. As pharmacy students we were able to play a crucial role in not only working the vaccine clinics, but running many aspects of the vaccine clinics.  The mantle of management and orchestrating interprofessional communication to ensure every aspect of proper immunization delivery (storage, documentation, intake, patient counseling, readiness assessment, addressing barriers). It was fulfilling to work the vaccine clinics, but this fulfillment came at a cost as they were extremely exhausting and tiring, and by Thursday evening we were ready for a long weekend in Yellowstone.  

            The vaccine clinics were set up in an RV trailer outside the three clinic sites on the reservation. Each day John and I probably did thirty plus vaccinations and were the main healthcare workers providing immunizations. It was an experience unlike any other, that either of us had had before.  

            By the time week 3 started the vaccine drive had slowed tremendously comparatively to the week before. Because of the extra hours put in at the vaccine clinics and the ability to work extra hours at the Riverton, we were able to take a long weekend to go up to Glacier National Park in Montana. 

If I were to describe Glacier National Park in one word it would be ‘Majestic’. The place is a mountain paradise unlike any place I’ve ever seen before. The drive from home base in Fort Washakie, Wyoming to Whitefish, Montana is about 10 hours which is not necessarily ideal but worth it if you have the opportunity. The place is a mountain paradise unlike any place I’ve ever seen before. The weather was less than ideal during the morning hours but once the sun burned off the clouds it revealed a landscape that can only be seen to be believed. We were able to hike into hidden lake and see one of the most beautiful landscapes in the US. After the hike we finished driving along the “Going to the Sun Road”. On the way back towards Whitefish we were able to stop and get some fishing done in the extremely cold mountain streams amongst the upper Rockies. In conclusion Glacier is one of the top 3 national parks in the country and we would 10/10 recommend making the trip! 

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