Every Islander over the age of 16 will be able to receive their first vaccine dose by the end of June, P.E.I.’s chief public health officer said Tuesday.
Dr. Heather Morrison rolled out a plan during her weekly briefing on Tuesday based on the province’s expectation that it will receive 100,000 doses of vaccine between April 1 and June 30.
“Based on anticipated guidance, we plan on offering every Islander over the age of 16 a single dose of vaccine by the end of June,’’ Morrison said, adding that the guidance she speaks of will be coming from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
Marion Dowling, P.E.I.’s chief of nursing, said they’ve been planning this for months.
“We’ve been planning for mass clinics to offer thousands of vaccines a day,’’ Dowling said. “The eagerness of Islanders to receive the vaccine is good news. There will be multiple clinic locations across the Island and at pharmacies. We’ll all be working together.’’
She said there is emerging evidence from data that health officials can space out the two required doses of vaccine. With the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, the approach has been to space them out by a few weeks.
Need to know
Following are some numbers that came out of the Tuesday, March 2 COVID-19 briefing:
- 12,596 doses of vaccine had been administered by Feb. 27.
- 7,377 individuals have had at least one dose of vaccine as of that date.
- Between April and June, public health will also focus on those not vaccinated in phase one, including firefighters, police, utility workers, teachers, transit drivers, seafood and meat plant employees, grocery and retail clerks.
- Beginning in July, officials will begin administering second doses.
- Public safety has received 587 complaints to date, visited 709 residences, completed six business inspections, issued 100 warnings, and issued 111 charges under the Public Health Act. One $5,000 corporate fine was issued this week.
- 1,015 random self-isolation checks have been completed since December.
Morrison is talking about an extended interval between doses, giving the province a chance to get the first vaccine into more Islanders and achieve herd immunity a lot faster.
“This is a significant development and a game-changer for P.E.I.,’’ she said.
Islanders aged 80 and older have been booking and receiving their first dose these past few weeks and that process will continue.
“If all adults are vaccinated with one dose by July 1, we will have a better summer than last year,’’ she said. “It may not be like the summer we had pre-COVID but ... this is very good news.’’
Morrison did note that some public health measures would remain in place, which may include some border measures but there will be more information coming on that in the coming weeks.
Read more: When will P.E.I.'s current restrictions change?
The ultimate goal is to vaccinate 80 per cent of adults in P.E.I.
P.E.I. is also anticipating arrival of the newly approved AstraZeneca vaccine within the next couple of weeks. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends this vaccine not be given to those 65 and older. Morrison said it will be used to vaccine healthy young people who are working in front-line, essential services.
Morrison acknowledges 100,000 vaccines in three months is an ambitious plan but is quick to point out that the province is able to administer 80,000 influenza vaccines in a three-month period each year.
“I believe it can be done. I know it’s not going to be easy but I think we’re all motivated,’’ Morrison said.
Twitter: @DveStewart
