Phase One of Newfoundland and Labrador’s vaccination plan continues to move forward with the first round of the newly-approved Moderna COVID-19 expected to arrive NL this week. VOCM reported on Dec 23rd last week.
The provincial government says remote and isolated Indigenous communities have been prioritized for the shipment of 2,400 doses. The second shipment of 2,000 doses is expected to arrive on the week of January 11.
The Moderna vaccine does not have to be kept at temperature -70 C like the Pfizer vaccine, making it the current ideal candidate for delivery to remote communities.
Meanwhile on Dec 23rd, some 1,900 health care workers in the Eastern region would have been vaccinated by that days’ end, according to the Dept. of Health.
Another shipment of the Pfizer vaccine arrived the day before and was allocated to the same health care workers, as they are required to get a second dose.
Further shipments are expected to arrive next month, and will be distributed to all regional health authorities’ priority groups.
According to Phase One of the provinces vaccination plan, priority groups include: those in congregate living settings for seniors, including residents, staff and essential visitors, health care workers at high risk of exposure to the virus, people 85 years or over and adults in remote or isolated Indigenous communities.