(Ed note: Video: The first COVID-19 vaccinations in a pharmacy today, March 9, at the Guardian Pharmacy in Spryfield.)
Nova Scotians ages 63 and 64 will be the first group eligible to access the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine starting Saturday, March 20.
The vaccine will be available at 25 locations across the province on a first come, first served basis.
“We have a solid plan to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to a specific age group as a start and it’s thanks to the hard work of everyone at Doctors Nova Scotia and the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia who answered the call,” said Premier Iain Rankin. “This vaccine provides another tool in our fight against COVID-19 and builds on the roll-out that is already underway in our province as we work to vaccinate all Nova Scotians.”
The province has partnered with the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia and Doctors Nova Scotia to help deliver 13,000 doses of the vaccine before April 2.
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is given on a two-dose schedule. Do not call clinic locations to book your appointment. All appointments must be made online at https://www.novascotia.ca/vaccination or by calling toll-free 1-833-797-7772. Booking for appointments opens Tuesday, March 16.
As our supply of AstraZeneca increases, we will continue to offer this vaccine to Nova Scotians who are between the ages of 50 to 64, starting with those who are oldest and working backward by age.
Nova Scotians who are eligible, but do not want to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, can get their vaccine when they become eligible based on their age under Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 immunization plan.
“All COVID-19 vaccines provide good protection against severe COVID-19 illness,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health. “Having the AstraZeneca vaccine will allow eligible Nova Scotians to have an option to receive an earlier immunization.”
The province will also soon have more vaccine than expected with 38,000 extra doses of Pfizer-BioNtech arriving in the last two weeks of March.
Recently updated guidelines from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has extended the second dose interval of COVID-19 vaccines to 16 weeks. This change means more Nova Scotians will receive a first dose of vaccine sooner.
“I’m pleased government called upon doctors to support the vaccine rollout. It’s been a long year, and the best way to get through this and protect Nova Scotians from COVID-19 is to get vaccine in arms as soon as possible.”
– Dr. Robyn MacQuarrie, president of Doctors Nova Scotia
“Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia is pleased to be a partner in the delivery of the AstraZeneca vaccine in this province. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are eager to do their part to end this pandemic. With all health-care providers working together, we believe that we will be successful in getting Nova Scotians their COVID-19 vaccine quickly.”
– Allison Bodnar, CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia.
Quick Facts:
— 35 long-term care facilities across the province have received vaccine to administer a first dose
— six First Nation clinics in Mi’kmaw communities have administered their first dose
— two pharmacy prototype clinics have launched, with two more set to launch the week of March 15
— Nova Scotia will open 10 community-based vaccination clinics across the province by the end of March
The following pharmacies will offer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine:
— Shoppers Drug Mart, 766 Sackville Dr., Lower Sackville
— Kyte’s Pharmacy, 920 Cole Harbour Rd., Dartmouth
— Lawton’s Drug Store, 8003 #7 Hwy., Musquodoboit Harbour
— Sobeys Pharmacy, 110 Warwick St., Digby
— Guardian – Hutchins Pharmacy, 310 St. George St., Annapolis Royal
— Walmart Pharmacy, 1065 Central Ave., Greenwood
— Stones Drug Store, 491 Chebucto St., Baddeck
— Freeman’s Pharmacy, 15786 Central Ave., Inverness
— Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, 288 Welton St., Sydney
— Amherst Pharmasave, 158 Robert Angus Dr., Amherst
— Pictou Pharmasave, 33 Water St., Pictou
— Guardian – Elmsdale Pharmacy, 269 Hwy. 214, Elmsdale
— Drug Store Pharmacy (located in Atlantic Superstore), 394 Westville Rd., New Glasgow
The following family physician clinics will offer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine:
— Geriatrics in Motion, 65 Prestwick Cl., Halifax
— Woodlawn Medical Centre, 92 Main St., Dartmouth
— Dalhousie Family Medicine (Spryfield location), 16 Denith Rd., Halifax
— Dalhousie Family Medicine (Mumford location), 265-6960 Mumford Rd., Halifax
— Berwick Family Practice, 121 Orchard St., Berwick
— Queens General Hospital, 175 School St., Liverpool
— Harvest Tides Family Practice, 70 Exhibition St., New Minas
— Middleton Collaborative Practice, 452 Main St., Middleton
— Colchester Research Group/ Truro Walk-In Clinic, 68 Robie St., Truro
— Mediplex: Medical Complex and Clinics, 40 Church St., Antigonish
— Island Family Health Care, 308-45 Weatherbee Rd., Sydney
— Northside Family Collaborative, 116 King St., North Sydney
Source: Release #notw
