Nova Scotia’s Vaccination Plan — Age Before Beauty

Age will be the primary factor as Nova Scotia rolls out its COVID-19 general vaccination program later this month.

The first community-based clinic for Nova Scotians will be for those age 80 and older.

The next group will be people 75 to 79 years-old. Vaccinations will continue in declining five-year age blocks until all Nova Scotians receive their vaccine.

Premier Stephen McNeil says, “The greatest risk factor for COVID-19 patients is their age. As vaccine supply increases, we are preparing to launch community clinics across the province to immunize as many people as quickly as possible, starting with those at greatest risk — our older Nova Scotians.”

The first community-based clinic for Nova Scotians 80 and older will begin February 22 in Halifax. The government claims it will be a prototype clinic as a model for future clinics. Participants will be identified by MSI and contacted directly by mail to schedule their appointments.

Nine more community-based clinics, including Amherst are planned in March for those 80 and older.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health says, “An age-based approach is also the fastest and simplest way to get vaccine into arms. We are ready to ramp up our immunization efforts as more vaccine enters our province.” 

Prototype clinics in pharmacies will launch in early March, with plans to expand to more locations by early April.

Certain groups will continue to be prioritized in Phase 2:

• anyone who works in a hospital and may come into contact with patients
• doctors and nurses who work in the community
• dentists and dental hygienists
• pharmacists and pharmacy technicians 
• those who live in large group settings and those who work directly with them
• those who are required to regularly travel in and out of the province for work. This does not apply to people who live in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick and cross the border every day for work 
• those who are responsible for food security and cannot maintain public health protocols due to the nature of their work, including those in food processing plants

All other Nova Scotians, regardless of profession or health condition, will receive the vaccine based on their age.

Nova Scotia will use five models of delivery to immunize Nova Scotians including health-care worker clinics, long-term care clinics, community clinics, provider clinics, and outreach to vulnerable populations.

There are ten cold storage sites across the province that can receive and store any type of COVID-19 vaccine.

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