N.S. COVID-19 vaccine rollout ahead of schedule, second doses moved up

Nova Scotia's COVID-19 vaccine plan is ahead of schedule, with most people set to get their second doses two to four weeks earlier.

Starting early next month, people who are due for their follow-up dose will be able to move their appointment up.

The first group includes health-care workers and those aged 80 and older. The system will progress down the age groups. 

For example, someone who got their first dose of vaccine on March 22 would have been booked to receive their second dose 105 days later, on July 5. However that person will soon be able to reschedule the second appointment for as early as the week of June 20.

This will continue until all second doses are rescheduled. People can also choose to get their second dose in a different location from their first one.

With a steady supply of vaccine, Nova Scotia now expects to reach 75 per cent population immunity by early September. 

"'This is in our hands—when the opportunity comes, get your appointment booked," Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health, said during a briefing Tuesday.

"We have to keep up the pace now that the finish line is finally in our sights."

Strang has said that 75 per cent population immunity level would mean about 85 per cent of eligible people would need to be fully vaccinated. That's the point when the province could open up significantly, and start a "new normal," he said.

The new plan is dependent on how many people sign up for shots and the province's expected vaccine supply. Any supply increase could lead to a faster rollout.

The provincial government said it is planning with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine since Moderna shipments have been less predictable. Those who've received Moderna as their first dose can receive Pfizer as their second dose.

The province is waiting on guidance from Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on whether those who received AstraZeneca for their first dose can take one of the mRNA vaccines like Pfizer or Moderna. Strang said he expects to find out in early June what NACI recommends. 

Everyone will get a notice by email when it's their time to reschedule. Those who did not provide an email when they signed up for their first dose can call 1-833-797-7772 to add one. The province said it will work with anyone who doesn't have access to an email address to make sure they're not left out.

As of Monday, about 48.2 per cent of all Nova Scotians have had one or more doses of vaccine.

Strang said there's been good vaccine uptake throughout all the age groups so far, with lots of people logging on to book appointments as soon as they can.

The 75 to 79 age group is currently leading the way with 98.8 per cent of this group having at least one dose, closely followed by those 70-74. 

The vaccine age group for those 20 and up opened Tuesday, while all eligible residents over 12 should be able to book their first dose by the end of this week. This means all eligible people should have their first dose by mid-June, which is ahead of schedule compared to the province's early expectations of late June.

New delivery models

The province is ramping up the drive-thru options for vaccine rollout, and introducing new models of delivery.

Truro is seeing a new drive-thru clinic this week, while next week Wolfville will open one as well. These two options, alongside the existing Dartmouth clinic, are aimed at people who find it difficult to access regular pharmacies or clinics.

That includes people with mobility or sensory challenges.

For those people who can't leave their home without significant help, they can get the vaccine where they are starting in June.

This could include those receiving home care, are on home oxygen, waiting for long-term care. Those eligible for this type of model can always expand.

Reopening details coming Friday

Premier Iain Rankin said more details about a "gradual" reopening plan for the province will be provided during a briefing on Friday.

"The fact that we can even talk about a reopening is amazing given where we were just one month ago," Rankin said during the briefing.

Nova Scotia reported 54 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the active total to 846. Of those, 35 cases are in the central zone, 15 in the eastern zone, three in the northern zone and one in the western zone. 

Seventy-two people were in hospital with COVID-19, including 20 in intensive care.

Nova Scotia health authority labs completed 3,973 tests on Monday.

Over the weekend, three new deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in the province, bringing the total number of deaths during the pandemic to 79. Also over the weekend, the active case count dropped below 1,000 for the first time since May 3. 

Vaccine progress update

The province is estimating that all those in long term care, veterans units, and adult rehabilitation centres will have completed their second doses by the end of this week.

Adults with disabilities in small options homes, group homes, and day program participants now have both doses, after 3,200 injections were administered.

Of the six African Nova Scotian community clinics completed so far, 1,000 vaccine doses were given out and more clinics are scheduled. Fourteen First Nations community clinics have seen 9,100 doses of vaccine administered.

For the province's four jails, all first doses have been administered (about 1,000) and second doses are scheduled.

Those in Nova Scotia shelters and women's transition houses have all had their first doses of the vaccine, and have second doses scheduled, the province said.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswick reported 15 new cases on Monday. The province has 134 active cases.
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported five new cases Monday and warned of a cluster of cases. The province has 89 active cases with four people in hospital.
• P.E.I. reported one new case on Friday. The province has 15 active cases.