Health officials say they are unsure how long the territory will be receiving reduced shipments of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
“What we do know right now is that we have a reduced third shipment. And we don’t have any further information on the fourth shipment and the fifth shipment,” said Dr. Kami Kandola, NWT chief public health officer, at a press conference on Tuesday.
However, health officials still expect the territory to reach its goal of 75 per cent of the eligible population being inoculated by the end of March.
Moderna announced last week it would be reducing its shipments to Canada by 20 to 25 per cent — the NWT’s third shipment of the vaccine will be 4,700 doses as opposed to the scheduled 7,200 doses.
Dr. AnneMarie Pegg, the territorial medical director, says the vaccination strategy will continue to be re-evaluated based on the evolving science around vaccine intervals.
The territory is currently experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 at Gahcho Kué mine site — three cases were reported at the satellite winter road camp and one at the actual mine.
As a result Dr. Kandola says the vaccination teams are focused on getting unvaccinated rotational workers — including mine workers as well as ice road support staff and medevac pilots — their first dose.
“So that’s our largest priority,” she explains.
The vaccine is administered in two doses, scheduled between 28 to 42 days apart.
Second doses will be delivered on schedule to long-term care residents and staff within the 28-day timeframe using existing vaccines from the first and second shipments.
However a GNWT press release from last week says other priority populations will be delivered closer to the 42-day timeframe to maximize vaccine supply.
There are currently five active cases of COVID-19 in the NWT.
Along with the four at Gahcho Kué, one case was reported on Monday in Fort Liard — related to travel outside the territory and not the recent community cluster.
At the press conference officials said over 12,000 first doses have been administered across the NWT, along with 125 second doses.
