More than a quarter of Nunavut youth vaccinated in less than a week
1,228 Nunavummiut between 12 and 17 have received first dose of Pfizer vaccine
Youth, parents and guardians line up outside the Iqaluit curling rink on June 16 prior to the official start of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s walk-in vaccination clinic. (File photo)
More than one out of every four Nunavummiut youth between the ages of 12 and 17 years received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine within the first week of it being available in the territory, according to a Health Department update.
Of the 1,228 Pfizer vaccines administered between June 15 and June 21, more than half of those happened in the first 48 hours, the department reported on Tuesday.
In addition to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s Iqaluit walk-in clinic — which tallied 445 vaccinations or 68 per cent of the city’s eligible youth population — clinics were also held in Arviat, Whale Cove, Pangnirtung, Kinngait, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Sanirajak, Sanikiluaq, Resolute Bay, Naujaat, Clyde River, Igloolik, Kugaaruk and Arctic Bay.
As of June 21, 18,712 people across the territory have been given a first dose of the Moderna vaccine and 15,751 who have received both doses.
While those numbers include vaccinations given to non-residents such as rotational workers, the Government of Nunavut has not identified the number of those doses.
Based on the updated data, more than half of Nunavut’s population is now at least partially vaccinated and 40 per cent are or soon will be fully vaccinated.
Although this is a step in the right direction, Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut's chief public health officer, has consistently said that the Department of Health would like to see everyone who's eligible get vaccinated.
Community clinics for youth will continue through July.
Outside of Iqaluit, Pfizer vaccinations will be available by appointment only. Those wishing to book an appointment can call their local health centre.
Unlike the Moderna vaccine, doses of the Pfizer vaccine are more difficult to transport and have a much shorter shelf life once they are unfrozen. Because of this the Government of Nunavut cannot guarantee that doses of that vaccine will be administered outside of the community clinic dates.
For a complete list of Pfizer vaccination clinics or for more information on the vaccine, visit the Government of Nunavut’s COVID-19 vaccine website.
The delta variant is going to rip through Nunavut
Unlikely. The research shows that mRNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are about 95% effective at preventing the acquisition of and/or hospitalization due to COVID-19. One dose does is not as effective but does offer some considerable protection (about 40%). If the vaccination rates keep up then Nunavummiut will be pretty well protected. While Nunavut had lagged behind the rest of the country, the majority of Nunavummiut are fully vaccinated and so I don’t think we’re going to see a devastating return of COVID-19, including the Delta variant.
I meant for the larger-than-normal unvaccinated population
The youth are smart, especially with technology today, I always find a new way to use my cell phone or laptop learning from a youth, they learn about vaccines and have shown us they care about their health and that of others.
I just wish some adults would be as smart as these young ones.