If you got a shot of AstraZeneca on or before April 21, watch for an email to reschedule your second dose. The province says rescheduling notices will be sent this week by email to the account provided at the time of booking. Anyone who did not provide an email must call the toll-free line at 1-833-797-7772 to reschedule or request an email address be added. People who received a first dose of AstraZeneca can schedule a second dose of either the AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, but Public Health is recommending Pfizer or Moderna. A recent study shows that a second dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) after a first dose of AstraZeneca results in a better immune response than two doses of AstraZeneca. The province’s recommendation is based on this emerging evidence and the risk of rare but serious blood clotting events associated with AstraZeneca. Rescheduling notices for second dose appointments will continue to be sent over the following weeks as vaccine supply is received.
Province reports 14 new COVID-19 cases on Monday
Nova Scotia reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the number of active cases to 182. Health officials say 11 cases are in the province’s Central zone. Nine of these cases are close contacts of previously reported infections, while two remain under investigation. The other two positive COVID-19 cases in the Central zone were reported on Sunday, and are connected to two Dartmouth schools. Both of these cases are close contacts of previously reported cases. Health officials say although these cases were reported on Sunday, they were announced after the cut-off time for reporting, which is why they appear on the province’s online COVID-19 dashboard on Monday.
Not included in Monday’s numbers, but announced last evening is another case at a Halifax High School. Two of Monday’s cases are in the Eastern zone and are both close contacts of previously reported cases. One case is in the province’s Western zone and is related to travel. There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Northern zone yesterday.
Premier Iain Rankin said Nova Scotia’s vaccine rollout is ahead of schedule with 61 per cent of the population having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of Sunday, 637,911 doses had been administered. Of those, 44,567 Nova Scotians had received their second dose.
Nova Scotia’s top doctor recommends Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for booster shots
Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health says people who received a single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine should opt for one of the another vaccines when they get their booster shot. Dr. Robert Strang cites research that indicates a second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines provides a better immune response than two doses of AstraZeneca. However, Strang says people will still have a choice when it comes to which vaccine they want.
Airline passengers arriving at Halifax Stanfield International airport will have the option of taking a COVID-19 test beginning today. Travellers will be issued a self-swab kit and instructions, while health staff will be on hand for assistance. Although the tests aren’t mandatory, officials have said the testing measure is a way to quickly identify and respond to cases. The self-swab kit is a PCR test, a lab-based test similar to the one used at primary assessment centres, and people will receive results by phone or email within 72 hours of dropping it off. Also Tuesday, Nova Scotia rotational workers who have no COVID-19 symptoms and who have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks before arriving in the province will no longer need to self-isolate, although they must get tested three times within a two-week period. (The Canadian Press)
PC’s say the Need A Family Practice Registry continues to skyrocket under Liberals
The PCs say the Need A Family Practice Registry continues to skyrocket under the governing Liberals. They point out that as of Monday, there were 66,404 Nova Scotians who were waiting for a family doctor or nurse practitioner, up 878 from last month. PC MLA Karla MacFarlane, the critic for Health and Wellness, points out that nearly one in five people in Pictou County do not have a family doctor, according to Nova Scotia Health data. MacFarlane encourages the Premier and his Liberal colleagues to admit there’s a problem. She says Nova Scotia has exceptional healthcare workers, but the problem is we don’t have enough and not everyone has access to them.
Tearmann Society ED Announces Retirement; Board Thanks Donna Smith for Stellar Leadership
Donna Smith has announced her plans to retire as Executive Director of Pictou County Tearmann Society, effective July. The Chair of the Tearmann Board of Directors, Jessie Parkinson, says the Board is extremely grateful for Donna’s leadership and unwavering commitment throughout all aspects of her roles within Tearmann. She began her affiliation in 2002 as a house counsellor and has had a five year tenure as Executive Director.
Government investing $4.7 million to improve access to public transportation across Nova Scotia
The province is investing $4.7 million to improve access to public transportation across Nova Scotia. Twenty-five projects will receive funding through the Community Transportation Assistance Program and the Public Transit Assistance Program this fiscal year. The Community Transportation Assistance Program is providing more than $1.8 million in operating funding to 19 door-to-door community transportation services. The Public Transit Assistance Program is providing over $2.9-million to municipalities and community organizations providing fixed route transit services. The funding is used towards capital purchases such as new buses. Locally, this includes over $171-thousand in funding for CHAD Transit in Pictou County.
The Fundy Highland U13 A Subway Selects team, which consisted of players from Pictou County and Colchester County, has won the Hockey Nova Scotia Female Team of the Year award. Many of the team’s players were meeting for the very first time when the season started and some were new to the game. As the season moved along, the team’s confidence grew, its players developed, and the team began an impressive winning streak. The Selects finished the year with an undefeated record en route to a league title, but it’s what they accomplished off the ice that’s the true measure of the team.
