Weekly COVID-19 update set to begin shortly. Dr. Hanley and Premier Silver attending today.

The Yukon Government has launched a new website in order to book vaccinations across the territory: https://yukon.ca/this-is-our-shot

Silver says vaccine efforts are moving ahead quickly for vulnerable people and front line staff. 685 people have received first dose. Next shipment of 7200 arrives this week.

Bookings for appointments in Whitehorse will begin in coming days for age 70+ and vulnerable people. System will be open for two weeks of booking at a time.

Mobile teams head out next week to rural communities across Yukon next week. Silver encourages all those who are eligible to get vaccinated. “The goal is to protect everyone and stop the spread of COVID-19,” he says.

Keep practising the safe six plus one, he reminds. Before passing to Hanley, he says vaccine info will be updated to http://Yukon.ca 

“I appreciate that people are anxious to get the vaccine, and that’s wonderful ... there will be an opportunity for everyone to be vaccinated when your time comes,” he says.

Hanley now. Update will focus on anti-body test kits that come people have received and are asking about. Also wants to elaborate on vaccine rollout.

We remain with two household clusters. Six active cases and no new cases. The 48 young people asked to self-isolate are out of isolation after a test confirmed a false positive from the rapid test.

People speculate about whether they had COVID in the spring. People around the country have received requests for blood sample from StatsCan.

It’s a legitimate effort, says Hanley. Part of a natl survey to see how much COVID-19 was out there, aside from test results. Test can determine if you have unknowingly had the virus and if antibodies are present. Totally optional and confidential.

Study will continue until March 2021. Across Canada and including people from the Yukon.

Vaccination continues in Dawson and Whitehorse hospitals and long-term care today. “Uptick has been great,” says Hanley. He acknowledges there are a few people who aren’t ready yet.

He expects people to feel more comfortable as the global vaccination effort continues. “Any progress on normalizing our society will depend on the uptake of the vaccine,” he says.

“Achieving herd immunity is a critical piece of that success,” he says. Only then can we look at how to wind down public health restrictions. Immunization is safe and regulation tests were rigorous.

In Yukon we have fared well compared to other jurisdictions, says Hanley. He says because of this some people may not see the urgency in vaccination. But southern hospitals are often near capacity and we are still at risk of importing the virus to the territory.

Any risks of side effects are inconveniences compared to the benefits of preventing infection, notes Hanley. Vaccinators prépared to deal with things like allergic reactions.

Within three months from now we could see YT population approach herd immunity as long as vaccine doses come in as scheduled. The pace will pick up significantly as things continue.

Vulnerability was considered with a number of factors, said Hanley. Organizing mass clinic to maximize individuals. We are not in the situation of provinces where people will have to wait.

Two key questions right now are: “how old are you?” And “what is your living situation?” These two factors inform risk and highest priorities for vaccine. Current focus is on these groups, including rural residents.

All of the other categories will be covered once the Feb. 10 Whitehorse clinic is open. Individuals will be asked to register and book appointments through website, eventually through call centre too.

Media questions now.

Q: Time for second shots overlaps with gen pop vaccination clinic. Concerns?

Hanley: two dose vaccine complicates the planning a bit. NACI has published revised recommendations for second dose timing. There is a six week “allowance” between doses.

Q: Do we know what protection first dose provides?

Hanley: could take all day to answer, but don’t have time. There is limited but promising data that shows first dose could be quite effective. But we don’t know long it lasts.

“We know that secondary dose is necessary to nail down,” he says. That will confirm immunity for three months and likely longer he says.

Q: Easing of restrictions? Will travel quarantine rules remain in place after vaccine?

Hanley: important questions being examined internationally. For now, restrictions remain in place. We need more evidence, data before making changes.

Hanley: Once we have more info we can start making those decisions. “These are things that will become more clear as we get more data,” he says. They will be revised accordingly. No changes to self isolation for now.

Q: What constitutes being high risk? Chronic illness? Complicating factors? Do people need to prove vulnerability?

Hanley: in terms of schedule, there’s lots of ways to slice it. Whole pop will eventually be vaccinated- this saves us from making those tough decisions.

Right now age and living situation is the priority concerns. By the end of March, everyone coming forward will be taken care of.

Q: The issue of vaccine rollout in smaller communities, what kind of challenges are there? Finding places for clinics?

Silver: some communities have civic addresses, some don’t. Reaching less social or online people. Good news is team is working hard to relay info.

People like mayors and chief and council are important to the effort. Some communities have more healthcare personnel, some don’t. Each community has unique challenges, says Silver.

Hanley: shoutout to CYFN COVID communicator who was on radio this morning. Lots of important partners among First Nations, teams readying, set-up going on from the ground, IT support.

“The more you learn about these operations the complexity is amazing,” says Hanley. “It literally takes a community to make this happen.”

Q: what are the baseline needs for infrastructure and space? How many communities will this be an issue?

Silver: parallel to business restart. People must be careful in lines, establishing online booking critical, people being safely distanced.

Communication ongoing with First Nations and municipalities. Buildings that are safe and secure, with room for protocols to make sure staff and clients are safe.

Hanley: if you think about flu clinic but scale it down, you need COVID-safe spacing, IT, security, greeters AND healthcare workers giving out the shots. Booking process and support teams crucial, technology backup plans need to be in place to secure data.

Q: no Yukon health card or non-Yukon health card, can they get vaccine?

Hanley: if you’re working and living here you can be counted. Can use prov health card. We have service agreements with neighbour communities, working out informal agreement with border communities ie Atlin.

Q: if you have a history of allergic reactions, are clinicians prepared?

Hanley: absolutely. Info in allergies is available on Yukon website, but all sites will be prepared; from anaphylactic to hives. If people have a known allergy to Moderna they are advised against it.

Q: for premier, is $4.2 billion announced by federal government for Indigenous communities, how much will Yukon be getting?

Silver: don’t have that info in front of me right now.

Q: will pharmacy, doctors, home care nurses, other health care professionals be distributing vaccine?

Hanley: this isn’t a vaccine that lends itself to peripheral distribution. Conditions are strict, ie. temperature and moving. “We don’t want to waste a single dose,” he says.

Q: clarify herd immunity within three months? One shot or two?

Hanley: second dose planning comes in, but aim is for end of March-beginning of April for two doses herd immunity AKA 75% of adults immunized.

Q: When do you think COVID-19 was in territory?

Hanley: probably March. Very hard to say precisely. Could have been treated early as the flu and not recognized, but we didn’t see signs of undetected transmission.

I asked a question about dates to see more vaccine shipments. Silver said it's a good Q for Ottawa, but after presser @cbcdavecroft pointed out to me that there is a federal schedule online.

According to this page, there are 3 deliveries scheduled for the next two months. Add in Dec. delivery to get 28,800 by Feb. 28. The total expected is 50,400 doses. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/covid-19-vaccine-treatment/vaccine-rollout.html