Indigenous Women's Reproductive Watch
A monthly newsletter to keep you informed.
Produced by Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center
September 30, 2020
Are Covid-19 Vaccine Trials Among Native Communities
Ethical?
Visit our By Mila Argueta
website
Recent promotions of vaccine trials among people of color have
challenged the idea of what consent and informed consent
requires.
Speed vs. Safety
Covid-19 vaccination trials are hitting their last stages of testing
before they are distributed en mass. While many people are
excited to become frontline fighters against the pandemic by
joining these trials,[i] they should also be hesitant.
It is being reported that these covid-19 vaccinations and
medications are being created and tested at top speeds. Some
medical professionals insist, however, that no corners are being
cut.[ii] Many other health officials, though, are not as sure about
the available drug therapies because of lack of data and time to
ensure quality.[iii] Further, the vaccine is only expected to be sixty
percent effective.iPerhaps public worry and insistence on speed
will push slow, true science and safety to the limit.
How This Affects Marginalized Peoples
Many trials may have risks, and these risks could be long term.
Past trials have harmed participants and have especially risked the
About the Native American
Women's Health Education
well-being and autonomy of marginalized people.
Resource Center
The clinical trials need to be diverse in order to track the effects in
different conditions and peoples.[iv] But the recruitment of diverse
people, of people of color, of Natives, should come with full
transparency and without coercion.
The Navajo nation in particular has been hit with suspicious
recruitment efforts and members are now participating in trials.
Navajo Vice President Lizer insisted, "With our participation in
the vaccine trial, we can reduce disparities and increase
representation to ensure the vaccine works safely among the
Navajo population."[v]But recruitment was encouraged through
Since 1985 the Native suspicious means. Questions weren't answered, risks weren't
American Women's Health Education
Resource Center has worked to presented, and some members felt threatened into joining.[vi]
protect the reproductive health and
rights of Indigenous women both
within our communities and With such bad history in regards to Native Americans rights being
internationally. Much of the work we neglected by clinical trials, here's some important guidelines and
have done has had a positive impact
by improving policies within the questions to consider before you join a clinical study.
Indian Health Service and by bringing
our issues into the policy arena so our
sisters and allies can work with us to How to Decide to Volunteer in Clinical Trials:
impact positive change. Here are some guidelines in regards to what informed consent is
In order to build a stronger coalition
of Indigenous women working on and how to know if it is as safe as possible for you to participate in
reproductive health and rights, The a trial.
Native American Women's Health
Education Resource Center is
sponsoring 1.They Must Respect You as an Autonomous Individual
As an autonomous participant you are entitled to all the
Indigenous Women's information regarding risk and benefits. That information must be
Reproductive Watch given clearly and in a way that you can understand it. If it is given
(IWRW) too quickly or if you don't understand the language or certain
The "Watch" is a biweekly e-mail
words, then it is not being presented correctly.
service that provides updated
information on current reproductive If the participant is in anyway inhibited from understanding - if
health and rights issues facing
Indigenous women. We feel this she are a child or mentally disabled - she is entitled to further
information is important for all protection.
communities because many health
issues facing Indigenous women in
particular affect the health rights of You should not be threatened into participation. For example, no
people of color and women in
general. We hope that this one should say, "a lot of people are going to die if you don't
information and listserv will assist participate."
advocates and activists to better serve
their communities.
You're economic or health disparity should not be used to exploit
you. If you feel bribed you are being coerced.
Thank You!
2. Researchers Must Act for Your Benefit
Any trial you are participating in should tell you ALL the risks and
Pidamiyaye! the benefits. If the risks seem greater than the benefits do not
participate. If they say there are no risks, this is suspect.
Your continued interest in the
Indigenous Women's Every trial should be reviewed. If you think that they are holding
Reproductive Watch
Newsletter is greatly out on information, ask how you can contact the trial's review
appreciated. The IWRW is a board.
bi-weekly newsletter is
disbursed on the 2nd and 4th
Wednesday of each month. Ask about if there are more risks than just health risks. Are their
mental risks? Are there spiritual risks? Are there cultural risks?
3. They Must Treat You Justly
There should be justice in the selection process and in the overall
rewards and burdens. No one should unequally bear the burden or
receive the rewards of the trial, and groups should be chosen
anonymously.
A clinical test group should be diverse. One group, especially a
minority group should not be overrepresented. Ask about how
diverse the trial is.
Ask about how the benefits will be distributed. If there are risks,
then you deserve the benefits. If the benefits are going to be too
expensive or hard to access by the group you belong to, it is not
worth the risk.
[i] https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/will-vaccine-trials-reflect-america-s-diversity-
437VoXPT5U6frq4hqv5CMQ
[ii] https://indiancountrytoday.com/coronavirus/experimental-covid-19-vaccine-is-put-
to-its-biggest-test-DhdtvJL-fkiIhKX-3766rw
[iii] https://www.lakotatimes.com/articles/trust-the-scientific-process/
[iv] https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/will-vaccine-trials-reflect-america-s-diversity-
437VoXPT5U6frq4hqv5CMQ
[v] https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/navajo-nation-takes-part-in-covid-vaccine-
study-DU00xn4JAUGNQCDBaAhOzQ
[vi]https://indiancountrytoday.com/opinion/politics-of-distrust-the-navajo-nation-s-use-
of-propaganda-devices-to-recruit-participants-for-covid-19-trial-vaccine-
mOdSWibZFkirjqBLHrWuMg.
The Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center, P.O. Box 572,
809 High Street, Lake Andes, SD 57356
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