The Northwestern Health Unit is now offering select groups their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine early.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young Hoon says this direction comes from the province with the increase in vaccine supply and the following groups are eligible to book now:
- All First Nations, Inuit and Metis people and their household members
- Individuals with the following medical conditions:
- Transplant recipients
- Malignant hematological disorders and non-hematologic malignant solid tumors receiving active treatment such as chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy (excluding those receiving only hormonal or radiation therapy)
- Those undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in the authorized age groups.
- High risk health care workers as defined here who are not being immunized by their employer
Appointments under this criteria can be made by phoning the NW health unit’s hotline at 1-866-468-2240.
As for the general population there’s a 16 week interval between doses, with those over 18 years old eligible to book their shots using the online provincial system.
The region’s top doctor expects those 12 to 17 years old should be able to book their appointments for the Pfizer vaccine in early June.
At this time, the health unit says they don’t have second dose instructions for those who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and will provide more information as it becomes available from the Province.
To date, over 38 thousand doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given in NWHU catchment area and 54 percent of those over 18 years old have received their first dose.
