Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health. Photo: Communications Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health says people need to continue to think of others during the pandemic.
This comes after Nova Scotia Health was made aware some people had found a way to register their elderly relatives for the prototype vaccination clinic planned for next week, despite not being invited.
At a conference held today, Dr. Robert Strang said everyone will get vaccinated, but jumping ahead of others who are offered it first isn’t right.
“Its unfortunate that some people found a way to game the system and put themselves ahead of others who had got an invitation,” he said.
“So for people who are doing that, I kind of say shame on you. All along throughout COVID-19, we’ve asked people to think of others first. The people who got a letter and are now disappointed they weren’t able to set up an appointment in that clinic, I apologize for that.”
The clinic in question, which is limited to those 80 and over who received an invitation, is being used to model how other community clinics will run.
While there is only one prototype clinic being held, Strang said those who missed it won’t have to wait long to get their vaccination.
Starting March 8th, community vaccine clinics will be available each week in multiple communities across the province. Those include:
- Monday, March 8: Halifax, New Minas, Sydney and Truro
- Monday, March 15: Antigonish, Halifax and Yarmouth
- Monday, March 22: Amherst, Bridgewater and Dartmouth
The clinics will be open to residents who are 80 and over as of March 1st, and MSI will be sending letters to those eligible to set up appointments.
Like the prototype, these clinics will be age based to ensure those most vulnerable are vaccinated, said Strang.
“Because age is by far the single biggest risk factor for severe disease,” he said on their focus on age, “Its far greater than someone younger, even if they have chronic health conditions.”
Strang said an age-based approach for clinics will also allow them to vaccinate the most people in the shortest period of time possible.
Also announced today was the first of 13 clinics to vaccinate indigenous communities throughout the province, which will be start in Millbrook First Nations next week.
Strang said those communities will be in charge of how they prioritize who is vaccinated first.
“They’ve identified that because of their long standing socio-economic challenges among others, they have poor underlying health conditions in general,” he said.
“So they’re looking to start their vaccinations at a younger age, many of them are looking at 55 and above.”
Language keepers, Elders and others who keep their culture alive were also identified as critically important, said Strang, and are a priority for vaccination for many of the indigenous communities.
Details on how and when those clinics will run are still being worked out, he said.
Two new COVID-19 cases were announced today, bringing our active cases to 15. One case was in the Eastern Zone and is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada. That person is self-isolating.
The other case is in the Central Zone, and is a close contact of a previously announced case.
Following a number of exposures listed in New Minas this week, Strang stressed the importance of residents in that area getting tested, even if they are only exhibiting minor symptoms.
More information on the upcoming clinics, as well as how to register can be found here.
