The Public Health staff from the Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development as well as Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority are scheduled to be in Hopedale this evening and tomorrow, January 14 to administer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible residents, 18 years of age and older.

Public Health staff will arrange times for eligible individuals to receive the vaccine, which will be administered at the Nanuk Centre.

Priority for the first doses will be given to health-care workers and seniors before the rest of the population is inoculated, as per federal and provincial directives.

The Nunatsiavut Government continues to work with all relevant authorities to ensure the vaccine is administered as quickly as possible in a safe and efficient manner.

For more information, please contact Kimberly Dicker, Public Health Nurse at 709-933-3834.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will also be administered today to all eligible residents of Postville for ages 18 and older.

For more information, please contact Joan Goudie, Public Health Nurse at 709-479-9842.

Nominations for the Canadian Constituency close today January 13th, 2021 at 2pm.

Nanette Blake is the Electoral Officer for the Nunatsiavut Government.

She says that they are unable to release any names for the by-election until then.

Blake adds that there are five people confirmed for the by-election.

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement residing in the Constituency of Canada will head to the polls on February 17th, 2021 to choose an ordinary member to fill a vacant seat in the Nunatsiavut Assembly.

OKâlaKatiget Society’s Radio Department hopes to speak with the nominees to hear more about their platform before the election.

Rigolet was the second Nunatsiavut community to receive the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine shots yesterday.

Marilyn Baikie is the Community Health Nurse.

She says everything went really well for the residents that came out to get their vaccine.

Baikie says some people did have some second thoughts first, but hearing from others who got the shot it did go well.

It was a busy day, and added total of 194 people showed up to get the shot including the DHSD staff.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear Baikie give you more details on what happened in their town yesterday.

Today, Tuesday, January 12, Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The province has four active cases.

There has been one new recovery in the Eastern Health region since yesterday.

This means 382 people have recovered from the virus, one person is in hospital and to date, 75,103 people have been tested.

There is an Atigik Workshop for ages 18-30 at the Nain Youth Centre.

There are 3 spots available.

You must email Crystal Allen Webb a paragraph as to why you want to make one at crystal.allen@nunatsiavut.com.

The deadline to apply is today, January 12th at 4:30 pm.

Sewing machines and material will be provided and youth must be dedicated and commit 3 full afternoons per week.

Please note that this is a pilot project and they will look at the dedication and commitment to decide if they will open up to other age groups for future programming.

The provincial government has released updated figures on the COVID-19 vaccination as many eagerly await news on its progress.

As of Sunday evening, over 5,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 2,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine had touched down in this province.

By the end of February, another 11,700 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine are expected to arrive in the Eastern Health region. Both Central and Western Health anticipate just over 5,800 doses in the same timeframe.

Labrador-Grenfell Health, which has yet to receive any of Pfizer’s vaccine, is slated for just fewer than 4,900 doses by the end of next month.

The 2,400 doses of Moderna’s vaccine have been allocated to priority groups within remote and Indigenous communities.

According to the latest numbers, over 2,800 people across Newfoundland have received their first doses of the vaccine. About 850 people in the Eastern Health region have also received their second dose.

Here is the year end review for August:

On August 3rd, the Labrador Friendship received funds from the Provincial and Federal Governments of a total of $1.2 million to rebuild the Aboriginal Family Centre building on 38 Grenfell Street in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Also, a virtual Annual General Meeting took place from the Convention Centre in St. John’s to find out who will be the next leader of the Liberal Party; the two candidates, Andrew Furey and John Abbott have had a unique race as they altered their campaigns amidst the pandemic.

August 5, the Minister responsible for wildlife was considering a pilot project to donation of wild food for food banks.

August 6, the Nain Fish plant had a total of 21,099 pounds of char landed and 16,300 pounds of green scallops, and 589 pounds of meats with 32 plant workers employed.

Alfred Chaulk became the new Production Manager for the Makkovik Fish plant this summer and said the plant landed a total of 218,733 pounds of crab.

Also, the Federal Government changed some of the guidelines for Employment Insurance with a minimum unemployment rate of 13.1 per cent will be applied temporarily for all EI economic regions across Canada.

Also, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced an additional $305 million to support Indigenous Peoples during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the Indigenous Community Support Fund.

August 14, the CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District Tony Stack announced that students, parents, and teachers had to wait even longer. For the back-to-school plan.

The George Lane Dart Tournament was held the weekend of August 14th in Hopedale.

August 19, Andrew Furey was sworn in as the 14th Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Effective August 24th, gatherings by a “recognized business or organization” may allow up to 100 people — up from 50 — inside a venue for social gatherings such as weddings, funerals and concerts if it’s still less than 50 per cent of the venue’s capacity. Outdoor gatherings will also be capped at 100 people.

On July 3, Air Canada canned 14 flights across Canada which hit Labrador and especially the West, and Wabush is hopeful other airlines will step in to fill the gap by Air Canada.

Also Dr. Janice Fitzgerald feared surrounding NL joining Atlantic Bubble Friday, July 3, but said Health System is prepared and the province is in a different place than it was in March.

On July 6, NG offered Inuktitut classes on Facebook with Sarah Townley as instructor till September. Also Elder Nellie Winters of Makkovik new book is released. And NL schools are to reopen come September.

The English River near Postville started operations on July 6. On July 7, Nain Inuit Community Government received funds to provide each household with a $250 cheque for COVID-19 relief. And it was announced the overall incidence of COVID-19 is low in the province.

July 8 saw new resources for the school year and back to school plans.

July 9, Both Nain and Makkovik Fishplants opened.

July 13, TRHA made selections for new homeowners in Nain, Hopedale, Rigolet.

July 14, NG made changes in the Support Programs in home heating and electricity to be evaluated in September and marine harvester reduced to 25 litres.

July 15 two sailboaters were escorted out by police in Makkovik after a unexpected arrival to town, flying a Norwegian flag.

July 16, NL’s borders will unlikely open to more travelers before July is out.

July 17 it was a dry town in Nain with no running water.

July 20 the two sailboaters who landed Makkovik unexpectedly on an Norwegian pleasure boat may face up to $5,000.

July 23, Nain char fishery was going well and Makkovik had one crab boat fishing. July 24 the government of NL regretted to advice that they’re unable to proceed to deliver apologies to Inuit residential school survivors last March due to COVID-19.

July 27 all festivals were cancelled on the north coast communities.

July 27, Torngat 1 scallop boat left Nain for their first drag for scallop.

It was an historic day in the town of Makkovik, which will be remembered for years on end.

The town residents were the first to get their COVID-19 Moderna vaccine shots.

John Andersen is an Ordinary Member with Nunatsiavut Government.

He said he witnessed the first shot of the vaccine being administered to one of his fellow elders, Willie Ford.

Stay tuned to Atjikangitut today to hear Andersen say few words of what took place yesterday in his town.

OK Radio also tried to speak with a resident and business in Rigolet, but at this time everyone is really busy to say anything about the vaccine shots that’s taking place as we speak, we hope to hear from Rigolet Health and Social Development tomorrow.

Today, Monday, January 11th, Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The province has five active cases.

This means 381 people have recovered from the virus.

One person is in hospital due to the virus.

To date, 74,814 people have been tested.