The Canadian press
Who committed the provinces to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks?
As COVID-19 vaccine supplies increase across the country, most provinces and territories have released details of who can expect a shot in the coming weeks. The military commander who handles the logistics for Canada’s vaccine distribution program says enough vaccine will be shipped to give any adult who wants one an initial dose before Canada Day. Major General Dany Fortin says if the provinces follow advice to postpone the second dose for up to four months. He also warns that what matters is that there are no more production delays. Health Canada expects a total of 36.5 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India by June 30. The provinces initially suspended AstraZeneca shots being fired to anyone under the age of 55 on the recommendation of an advisory committee, but their recommendation was changed on April 23 to take into account that the shot is safe for those aged 30 and over. However, the provinces have not yet set the threshold quite as low. There are approximately 31 million Canadians over the age of 16, and vaccines are not approved for anyone under the age of 16. Here is a list of vaccination schedules across Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador Three of the four regional health authorities for Newfoundland and Labrador have started administering the Pfizer and Moderna shots to adults 65 years of age and older and to those classified as “Clinically Extremely Vulnerable” become. Rotary workers, truck drivers, and flight crew also receive these shots. The fourth regional health agency – Labrador-Grenfell Health – vaccinates everyone in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the province’s vaccine roll-out. This includes people 60 and older, frontline health workers and first responders. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is used across the province for people between the ages of 55 and 64. The province has no immediate plans to lower the age threshold, following new recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. — Nova Scotia All Nova Scotians who want a vaccination should be able to get their first shot in late June, said Chief Medical Officer for Health Dr. Robert Strang, April 9th with. The original goal was September. On April 19, the province announced that people aged 60 and over could book appointments for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is also available for people aged 55 to 64 years. The province also plans to use mobile van clinics to vaccinate approximately 900 people who work in or use homeless shelters in the Halifax area. Public Health is working with pharmacists and doctors to deliver the vaccines to 25 locations. Nova Scotia has put frontline police officers on the list of eligible for vaccination in the second phase of the provincial rollout plan, joining groups such as truckers and hospital workers over the age of 60. – – Prince Edward Island Health officials say they will focus on giving all adults a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by July 1, although for some it means delaying the second shot . Starting today (April 26th) people over 40 can make an appointment for a vaccination. People aged 16 and over with underlying illnesses and pregnant women (as well as all eligible members of their respective household) can also book recordings. In the meantime, PEI has stopped giving the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone under the age of 55 amid concerns about a possible link between the shot and rare blood clots. — New Brunswick Health officials in New Brunswick say a person 65 or older, a caregiver, or family member acting on their behalf can now make an appointment for a vaccine at a pharmacy. Health professionals who are in close contact with patients and people with complex medical conditions may also receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The province says all nursing home residents were offered at least one dose of vaccine. Starting March 19, all residents of First Nations communities aged 16 and over were given access to their first dose of vaccine. Workers who travel across the border regularly, including regular commuters, truckers, and rotation workers, can also receive vaccines. — Quebec Quebec has expanded access to COVID-19 vaccines for Montreal residents who are important workers or who have chronic illnesses. Important employees such as teachers and first-aiders can now book an appointment after presenting proof of employment. Quebec has opened vaccination appointments across the province for people over the age of 60. Quebecers aged 45 to 79 can now get an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in walk-in clinics. On April 8, officials announced the first 13 companies to operate clinics in their workplaces, with each location capable of vaccinating up to 25,000 people between May and August. Participating companies include National Bank, Bell and Groupe CH, owners of the Montreal Canadiens NHL team. The clinics will be located in eight different health regions and will be operational until May 1st. The Montreal Airport Authority will work with Air Canada and Bombardier to create a vaccination hub that will operate two locations on the departure level of the airport terminal and in a nearby Bombardier hangar. — Ontario Ontario has stated that anyone aged 60 and over is eligible for a vaccine, although some local health officials have lowered the threshold themselves. The province has also expanded the eligibility for the vaccine against Oxford-AstraZeneca, stating that anyone aged 40 and over can get the shot. Recordings are available through pharmacies and first responders. However, Prime Minister Doug Ford’s office noted that provincial officials have warned that the next two deliveries of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot to the province could be delayed. Ford’s office says it has reached out to “international allies” for help in sourcing more vaccines for the province. Meanwhile, Ontario has doubled the number of pharmacies involved in vaccination in the province. Around 1,400 pharmacies at COVID-19 hotspots now offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The province hopes to add another 100 pharmacies to the vaccine trial by the end of the month. — Manitoba Manitoba uses the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for First Nations 30+ and others 50+. These are available through a number of channels, including what are known as supersites in larger communities. The health authorities are planning to lower the minimum age bit by bit in the coming months. The province also allows people aged 40 and over to obtain a vaccine against Oxford-AstraZeneca through pharmacies and medical clinics, subject to availability. Manitoba has opened its vaccination program to all frontline police officers and firefighters in the province, regardless of age. Meanwhile, the province has expanded eligibility to vaccinate anyone over the age of 18 who live and work in three areas of Winnipeg designated as COVID-19 hotspots. Priority communities include Downtown East, Point Douglas South, and Inkster East. Workers in areas involving public relations, such as teachers, grocery store workers, and restaurant clerks, are among the shooters. About 5.2 percent of Manitoba’s population is now fully vaccinated. — Saskatchewan The Saskatchewan Health Authority currently books vaccinations for residents aged 44 and over. However, the age rating is expected to be reduced to 40 years from Wednesday, April 28th. The minimum age for people in the far north is already 40 years. Additional health care workers are eligible for exposure: employees in private medical offices, private digital imaging clinics, community laboratories, and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. The province has also expanded the vaccine delivery schedule for people in more vulnerable groups to include all pregnant women and 16- and 17-year-olds who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable. Saskatchewan has also lowered the age at which people can get the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from 55 to 40, despite the prime minister saying fewer than 9,000 doses are available. There are drive-through and walk-in vaccination clinics in the municipalities of the province. However, transit locations in Regina and Saskatoon have been temporarily suspended due to limited supply. — Alberta Albertans born in 2005 or earlier at high risk of health problems can be shot. The next phase of healthcare workers can also book appointments: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, their office staff, laboratory technicians, interns in clinical areas, and healthcare workers in First Nations reservations and in Metis settlements. Previously, recordings were available to health workers, workers, and residents in supportive housing facilities, Albertans born in 1956 or earlier, and First Nations, Inuit, and Metis born in 1971 or earlier. More than 250 pharmacies offer vaccinations. Ten medical clinics across the province are also offering admissions as part of a pilot that could expand in May. The province has also lowered the minimum age for the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine from 55 to 40 years. Alberta has announced that it will extend the time between first and second doses to four months – although officials said some cancer patients may book a second dose 21 to 28 days after the first on Thursday. Health Secretary Tyler Shandro said the province expects to offer a first dose of vaccine to all Albertans aged 18 and over by the end of June. — British Columbia Province is lowering the minimum age to register for COVID-19 vaccinations. The Department of Health says all adults over the age of 18 are now eligible to enroll for vaccines through the province’s Get Vaccinned program. After registration, users will receive a verification code. They then wait for an e-mail, text or call telling them that they are authorized and can book their vaccination appointment with this code. BC, along with other provinces, has lowered the age for those eligible to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot to 40. Firefighters, police and paramedics are currently being vaccinated with the vaccines Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna along with staff from schools and day-care centers. As of Sunday, the province reported that 1.73 percent (88,663) of the population had been fully vaccinated. — Nunavut Nunavut has opened vaccinations for people over the age of 18. The area expects the rollout of the first and second dose of vaccine to be completed by the end of April. — Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories also provide vaccines for those aged 18 and over and expect rollout to be completed by the end of April. — Yukon The Yukon government says 71 percent of the territory’s eligible residents received their first COVID-19 vaccination as returning students and seasonal workers are scheduled to take their shots. Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon’s chief health officer, says students returning to Yukon with seasonal workers could receive the COVID-19 vaccine during their mandatory self-isolation, provided they tested negative for the virus after taking a rapid test. — This report from The Canadian Press was first published on April 26, 2021. The Canadian Press
