The province says it’s taking steps to help more Nova Scotians get vaccinated earlier.
Government says clinic hours are being extended and more of these sites are opening up to help Nova Scotia achieve its goal of ensuring all residents are fully vaccinated by the end of August.
It’s expected more than 245,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine will arrive by the end of this month, which is in addition to regular shipments of the Pfizer vaccine.
“Moving up our vaccination rollout by more than a month is no small feat. We are expanding where we can, as quickly as we can,” said Premier Iain Rankin in a news release. “It is only because of the countless hours that hundreds of people across our health-care system have, and will, put in that we can fully protect more Nova Scotians sooner.”
Government says these shipments are enough to vaccinate half of the province’s eligible population.
Nova Scotia is leading the country in first dose vaccinations at 71.1 per cent. The national average is 66 per cent.
“Having high coverage rates with two doses of vaccine is key to safely reopening. Our ability to move up our timeline from end of September to end of August demonstrates that we have a strong vaccine rollout,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health. “I am proud of the program we have created and the dedication of our immunizers and volunteers on the front-lines and of those who are working behind the scenes.”
The province has also partnered with the Halifax Convention Centre, Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Red Cross, and IWK Health Centre to open a community vaccination clinic in the Nova Centre, which is set to launch later this week for people with scheduled second doses.
Due to its centralized location in a high foot-traffic area of the city, the clinic will expand in the coming days to offer a walk-in service only to people who need a first dose of vaccine.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced on social media over the weekend the federal government had approved a request from our province for the military’s help to administer vaccines due to a massive increase in the supply.
We will do whatever it takes- for as long as it takes- to ensure all Canadians are protected against #COVID19. As a result of a massive increase in incoming vaccine supply to ???? we have approved a request from @nsgov for @CanadianForces assistance w/ vaccine administration in NS.
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) June 19, 2021
Blair says the Canadian Forces will operate the new clinic at the Convention Centre with the ability to administer 500-1000 doses per day until members with the Canadian Red Cross can take over its operation.
