NUNAVUT TO BEGIN VACCINATING ELDERS, HEALTH WORKERS

The first doses of a vaccine against COVID-19 are to be given Wednesday to residents at Iqaluit's elders home, Nunavut's chief public health officer says. Elders and front-line health staff are Nunavut's priority for the Moderna vaccine, which arrived in the territory last week. Dr. Michael Patterson told a news conference Tuesday nurses will vaccinate elders in care homes, while the public will be able to walk in or make an appointment at community clinics. The clinics are to begin Monday and will open first in Arviat, Gjoa Haven, Igloolik and Cambridge Bay. So far, Nunavut has received 6,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine and expects a second shipment before the end of the month. The vaccine requires two doses, 28 days apart. Patterson said the territory will vaccinate 3,000 people first and save the remainder for second doses. “This will ensure that the necessary doses are available if the second shipment of vaccines expected later this month is delayed,” he said. There are no active cases of COVID-19 in the territory.