Indigenous community embraces vaccine in Covid-hit NSW town Wilcannia

One of the state’s most vulnerable Aboriginal communities is finally embracing the “shield” of the Covid vaccine.

One of the state’s most vulnerable indigenous communities is finally embracing the “shield” of the Covid vaccine despite early fear and distrust of the government.

Conspiracies even swirled that people were undergoing “micro­chipping” in the guise of the vax.

One local leader said about a third of the community in Wilcannia was “anti-vax”, with another saying the government had “tricky minds”.

Wilcannia teens Darneil Thomas, Nicholas King, Shyla King and Daphne Kennedy were vaccinated. Picture: Toby Zerna

Aunty Kerry “Sissy” King says the jab is like a shield. Picture: Toby Zerna

Aboriginal spokeswoman Aunty Kerry “Sissy” King said she was vaccinated despite being spooked after seeing a fake video about vaccine microchipping.

“The video reminded me of having an ankle bracelet, where you can’t move. Seeing those videos I was even thinking: ‘Stuff that’, but when it started leaving the cities I came around,” Aunty Sissy said.

“A lot of us are confused and scared of vaccines. So that’s a worry. And it’s all ages, not just the young ones. But the reality is, we’ve had vaccines all our lives and they’ve kept us safe. Now I feel like I carry some sort of shield around me.”

Tanika Hunter with her two-year-old son Walter Mason. Picture: Toby Zerna

Local elder Cyril Hunter,74, was one of the first people in the community to be vaccinated. Picture: Toby Zerna

Wilcannia woman Tanika Hunter, 24, who is in isolation as a close contact said she was not getting vaccinated.

“Nah, I don’t believe in them. You just see things on Facebook and that. One man put a spoon up to his arm and it just stayed there,” Ms Hunter said.

Wilcannia Aboriginal elder Cyril Hunter, 73, one of the first in the community to get the jab, says locals were hesitant because they felt they had no control.

“I guess a lot of people are not really sure because they weren’t notified or spoken to. When a person pulls up and says do this or do that. It’s a lack of control.”

Nicholas King receives his jab at a pop-up clinic. Picture: Toby Zerna

Far West Local Health chief executive Umit Agis said it was understandable there was some distrust.

“Given the history of the Aboriginal community, you can understand why it might be,” Mr Agis said. “We heard rumours going around about doctors injecting chips in the arms. But as the numbers are increasing, the minority voices are really drowning out.”

The chair of the Local Aboriginal Land Council, Barkindji man Michael Kennedy, said he worryingly estimated about a third of the community did not believe in vaccines.

“You see videos on social media of people holding magnets on their arms. Sometimes they make things look so real. Hearing about people dying straight after the vaccinations … I just ignore it. I know it’s crap. I don’t believe in any of the conspiracy theories.”