Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 Vaccine

USPA NEWS - As many provinces across Canada are seeing a record number of new cases of COVID-19 on a daily basis, it has become very clear that Canadians are now feeling the wrath of the second wave of this deadly virus.

Monday, December 14th,  many Canadian provinces received their first allotment of the new Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine, and immediately it was administered to front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.  Although there are only a limited number of doses in the first allotment, each province is expecting a weekly delivery of the vaccine. Canadians are being urged to be patient and continue to follow public health rules before and after they receive their vaccine. The vaccine will be most effective if everyone does not let their guard down.

On Tuesday, the Nova Scotia Government released the following statement on their Facebook page, "The vaccine has arrived! Nova Scotia received its first allotment of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine today, December, 15th. The first immunization clinic, operated by Nova  Scotia Public Health will start Wednesday, December, 16th. Those who work in the following areas will receive the vaccine this month: COVID-19 units in hospitals, emergency departments, critical care units, birth unit, early labour unit at the IWK Health Centre, along with regional care units, and long-term care staff directly involved in patient care in Central Zone, including designated caregivers, will receive the vaccine in December.  Due to strict transportation, handling, and storage requirements, the first vaccinations will be administered in Halifax, where the vaccine is stored."

Even though it is anticipated to take months for the average Canadian to be vaccinated, the goal is to have everyone in Canada to have received the COVID-19 vaccine by the fall of 2021. Many politicians and health care workers consider this to be a light at the end of the tunnel. 

The Canadian Military has been tasked to assist with developing logistical support in what is thought to be the largest vaccination process in Canada's history.  Canadian Armed Forces Strategic Joint Staff Director of Staff Major Gen. Trevor Cadieu said, "The Canadian Armed Forces is assisting with the development of a logistics support plan for the rollout of the vaccine. For all intents and purposes, this will be the maneuver plan to support the delivery of the vaccine across the country. The chief of defense staff will be prepared to provide advice on how best to use Canadian Armed Forces resources for the actual rollout of the vaccine."

Premier Stephen McNeil said, "This is a milestone in the battle against the virus. As the supply increases, every Nova Scotian will have access to the vaccine. But this will take many months, and I ask everyone to be patient in the meantime as the vaccine rollout begins with front-line health-care workers and the most vulnerable."

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health said, "We must use the limited vaccine we receive where it will have the biggest impact in our health-care system and in our communities. As vaccine supply increases in the spring and summer months, we will be able to gradually expand who gets the vaccine and where."

There are six new cases of COVID19 in Nova Scotia, which is very low compared to many other jurisdictions in the country. All new cases are close contacts of previously reported cases. Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang will provide a COVID-19 media update tomorrow, Wednesday, December 16th, at 3 p.m. on Facebook Live, YouTube, and at www.novascotia.ca/coronavirus.

Breaking News Update - December 16th, 2020. Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang visited the COVID-19 vaccination clinic this morning where, Danielle Sheaves, a registered nurse with the COVID-19 unit at the QEII, would become the first person in Nova Scotia to receive the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine. Premier Stephen MacNeil said, " It´s a monumental day in Nova Scotia as the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered this morning. Thank you to our front-line healthcare workers, for both administering and receiving the vaccine today." For more information on Nova Scotia´s COVID19 vaccination plan, visit: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/symptoms-and-testing/#vaccine