Uncertain vaccine supply changes plans
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia will run out of vaccine before the next shipments arrive, the province's chief medical officer of health said Tuesday.
Dr. Robert Strang said health-care worker vaccination clinics at Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney and Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville will continue next week.
But clinic sat Col chester Cumberland Regional Hospital in Truro and Dalhousie University in Halifax will only resume once the province gets more vaccine.
“We know we're not getting any Pfizer vaccine next week and the week after we're getting 1,950 doses, a tray of vaccine,” Strang said at a news briefing Tuesday in Halifax. “Beyond that, there's no certainty what the amount of vaccine, whether it's Pfizer or Moderna, we're going to get.”
The uncertainty has been caused by manufacturing delays at Pfizer and indications from the European Union that it will slow down vaccine exports to protect its own supply.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made in Europe.
Strang said despite the uncertain vaccine schedule at the moment, “we're still on target for all Nova Scotians having an opportunity to be vaccinated by the end of September.”
All staff, residents and designated caregivers have been vaccinated at Northwood's Halifax and Bedford campuses, Harbourstone Enhanced Care in Sydney and Oceanview Continuing Care Centre in Dartmouth. The rollout at Parkstone Enhanced Care in Clayton Park is about 98 per cent complete and will be completed next week.
By Thursday, an additional seven long-term-care facilities across the province will have vaccine to start their immunization programs.
A prototype clinic for people over 80 in the community is still scheduled to start in mid- to late February at the
IWK Health Centre.
Strang said these community clinics — others are planned in First Nations and African Nova Scotian communities — “will help us understand what works and what doesn't work so when we're ready to administer large quantities of vaccine, we are able to do so immediately.”
ONE NEW CASE Nova Scotia reported one new COVID-19 case on Tuesday as the level of viral activity continued to drop.
The number of active cases is down by four to 11, the lowest level since Oct. 31.
At the briefing Tuesday, Premier Stephen McNeil said despite the low viral activity, the current public health restrictions will remain in place for now, citing the more aggressive variants of COVID19 that have been found in Nova Scotia, as well as the uncertain vaccine supply. EXPOSURE ADVISORY Also Tuesday, Nova Scotia Health Public Health issued an advisory about potential exposure to COVID-19 at two locations in Halifax.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you must selfisolate while waiting for your test result. If you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19 you do not need to self-isolate while you wait for your test result:
• Atlantic Photo Supply Halifax (6111 Pepperell St., Halifax) on Jan. 20 between 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. It is anticipated anyone exposed
to the virus at this location on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, Feb. 3.
• HomeSense Bayers Lake (9 Washmill Lake Ct., Halifax) on Jan. 22 between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It is anticipated anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, Feb. 5.