Nova Scotia’s vaccine rollout expanded to the public the first week of March after being exclusive to health-care workers and long-term care workers, residents, and their caregivers.
The province’s strategy is vaccinating people by age. Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, has said time and again that age is the biggest risk factor when it comes to severe disease and death from COVID-19.
For now, people 80 years old and over and those between 50 and 64 years old are eligible for the vaccine.
Here’s some of what we know about rollout in these groups.
What vaccine will people be getting?
- People 80 years or older who are receiving the vaccine now are getting the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
- The other group, those aged between 50 and 64, are now only eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine. They also have the option to wait for their turn based on age to get another vaccine. Strang said they could be getting any of the vaccines approved by Health Canada if they choose to wait.
Who can book an appointment now?
- Booking for people 80 years or older is only available now for those who are born in January, February, March, and April. If you're born between May 1 and Aug. 31, you can book an appointment starting Monday, March 15. Booking for people born between September and December will open later in March.
- To avoid putting pressure on the province’s booking system, the province decided to initially open appointments only for people aged 63 and 64 among the 50 to 64 age group. Nova Scotia is expecting more AstraZeneca vaccine later in March and April. As more vaccine becomes available, the province will continue offering it to people starting with 64 years old and going backwards by age.
Do you need two doses?
Vaccines from both Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca require two doses to reach maximum effectiveness.
If you booked your vaccine before March 8, you would get your second dose 21 days after the first dose.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization extended the time between the first and second doses from 21 days to 16 weeks. This means people booking their vaccine after March 8 will be getting an appointment for their second dose four months later.
Do I need to book an appointment for the vaccine? Or can I drop in?
All age groups must book an appointment to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Walk-ins will be turned away.
If you’re 80 years old and older born between January and April, booking opened on March 8 for locations in eight community clinics across the province. Booking starts on March 15 for two additional clinics in Dartmouth and Amherst.
You can find all clinic locations here.
If you’re 63 or 64, the vaccine will be administered at 25 pharmacies and family doctors’ offices by appointment. Booking will open on March 16 and clinics will launch on March 20.
To book an appointment, don’t call the clinic, pharmacy, or doctor’s office. You should use the online booking system or call 1-833-797-7772 (toll-free). The Nova Scotia COVID-19 vaccine page has information about what you need to prepare before booking your appointment.
The Department of Health has also set up clinics in 11 out of 13 Mi’kmaw communities across the province. Two more clinics in the remaining communities will start delivering first doses as of next week. Mi’kmaq people 50 years or older are eligible for the vaccine. People eligible for the vaccine through these clinics are contacted to book an appointment.
Nebal Snan is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
