"Today is a historic day for the Indian Health Service," said Director Roselyn Tso.

Roselyn Tso took the oath of office to become the first Navajo person to serve as the Director of the Indian Health Service.

The number of monkeypox cases for American Indians and Alaska Natives is not available as data has not been reported by race.

"The American Rescue Plan Act appropriated a historic $6 billion to the IHS for expanded health care services, lost third party revenue, and pandemic related activities such as delivering vaccines and tests to prevent the spread of COVID-19," said Elizabeth Fowler of Indian Health Service.

The Department of Health and Human Services is hosting a Nation to Nation dialogue on the federal government's COVID-19 response efforts.

“This report reaffirms what we hear routinely from states: COVID-19 vaccines save lives, prevent hospitalizations, and reduce infection,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Staff at the Indian Health Service who serve in federally-operated health care facilities and interact with, or have the potential to come into contact with, patients will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.