Free Vaccination Transportation announced for Pictou County Residents
Photo (submitted): Pictured left to right: Chad Transit, Executive Director, Danny MacGillivray, and driver Phillip Fisher.
The province is subsidizing transportation to vaccination clinics, making it a $5 round trip even if your appointment is in Antigonish or Truro. To help support the vaccination effort and ensure that everyone in our community can get to a clinic, the Aberdeen Health Foundation will fully cover the $5 portion making it a free ride for Pictou County residents. If you need transportation to and from a vaccination appointment, simply call CHAD Transit at 902-928-1234.
PFIZER AND BIONTECH ACCELERATE VACCINE DELIVERY SCHEDULE
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is entering the final stretch of the COVID-19 health crisis, and Canadians just need to stay strong a little longer. Trudeau announced Tuesday that Pfizer and BioNTech are accelerating their delivery schedule to ship another five million doses of their vaccine to Canada in June, bringing their total shipments in the spring to 17.8 million. Moderna remains on course to ship more than 12 million doses in the next three months, while four-million Oxford-AstraZeneca shots are expected by the end of June. Procurement Minister Anita Anand says the first shipments of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine are set to arrive at the end of April. Barring any unexpected interruptions in production or export of vaccines, Canada is in line to have more than 44 million doses before Canada Day. That should mean all adults over 18 will be offered a vaccine faster, and the wait for a second dose may be shorter than the current four months. (The Canadian Press)
Oxford-AstraZeneca suspension doesn’t mean vaccine is unsafe: N.S. top doctor
Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer said yesterday recent advice from Canada’s expert vaccine panel against using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on people under 55 doesn’t mean those doses are unsafe. However, Dr. Robert Strang said the province plans to wait for more information from the manufacturer to see if the benefits of using the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization updated its stance on the vaccine Monday after rare cases of blood clots primarily in women under 55 were reported in Europe. Strang said he understands the fear around the vaccine, but he expects the province will soon have more information to make more precise recommendations. Residents aged 55 and over can still get the AstraZeneca vaccine in Nova Scotia, he said, adding that officials have been administering those doses to people aged 60 to 64. Nova Scotians in that age cohort should feel secure about the safety of that vaccine, Strang said, adding that residents with appointments to receive those doses should weigh their options: get the AstraZeneca vaccine now or wait longer to be vaccinated. People who have received a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the last 20 days and who receive it going forward should monitor for symptoms such as shortness of breath, leg swelling, persistent headaches and blurry vision, Strang said. Officials may have to delay the vaccine rollout if evidence indicates the AstraZeneca vaccine isn’t safe, he added. (The Canadian Press)
N.S. ANNOUNCES 3 NEW COVID-19 CASES, INCLUDING ONE IN THE NORTHERN ZONE
Health officials reported three new COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia on Tuesday. Three previously reported cases are now considered recovered, as 24 active cases remain in the province. One of Tuesday’s new cases was identified in the in Northern Zone and is currently under investigation. Another case is in the Central Zone and is a close contact of a previously reported case. The other case is in Eastern Zone and is related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada.
Nova Scotia has extended the option for doctors and other health-care practitioners to use phone and video conferencing appointments to March 31, 2022. The province will evaluate the virtual health-care program before the end of March 2022 to determine what the long-term approach will be.
The Province of Nova Scotia says it’s partnering with the Government of Canada to expand the province’s virtual care services. Through a bilateral agreement, Nova Scotia will receive about $5.9 million from the federal government. This funding will allow the province to:
— improve access to e-mental health and addictions supports, including reaching vulnerable populations and enable language translation for websites
— invest in an online appointment booking for lab tests and other diagnostic services
— further develop the province’s virtual care strategy
HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION: MI’KMAQ BAND FILES LAWSUIT OVER N.S. LOBSTER
A Mi’kmaq First Nation that encountered violence after launching a self-regulated lobster fishery last fall has filed a lawsuit against non-Indigenous fishers in Nova Scotia, the RCMP and the federal government. In a statement of claim filed Friday with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, the Sipekne’katik First Nation alleges that non-Indigenous commercial fishers stole and damaged band members’ traps, and engaged in a co-ordinated campaign of intimidation and harassment. The band’s statement of claim alleges that both the RCMP and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans failed in their duties to ensure the safety of Indigenous fishers. None of the allegations has been proven in court and none of the defendants named in the suit could be immediately reached for comment. A separate lawsuit filed last month includes a constitutional challenge targeting a Nova Scotia law that has prevented the band from selling the lobster it caught in St. Marys Bay, in the southwest of the province. The lawsuits follow months of tension surrounding a so-called moderate livelihood lobster fishery the band launched on Sept. 17, 2020, which took place before the start of the federally regulated fishing season. (The Canadian Press)
Environment and Climate Change Minister Keith Irving has appointed 12 new members to the Round Table on the Environment and Sustainable Prosperity. The province says the round table advises the minister of environment and the premier on protecting our environment, and how it links to strengthening our economy and supporting our social goals. Maxine MacLean of Island East River, Pictou County is among the appointees. These are volunteer positions.
The new appointees also include:
Louise Delisle of Shelburne, Shelburne Co.
Susanna Fuller of Halifax Regional Municipality
Sarah Riley of Halifax Regional Municipality
Jeff Bishop of Greenfield, Colchester Co.
Savannah DeWolfe of Halifax Regional Municipality
Graham Gagnon of Halifax Regional Municipality
Rochelle Owen of Halifax Regional Municipality
Jeff MacCallum of Brookside, Colchester Co.
Marla MacLeod of Halifax Regional Municipality
Michel Raymond of Halifax Regional Municipality
William (Bill) Simpkins of Halifax Regional Municipality
The current round table members include chair Scott Skinner of Clean Foundation, John Crace and Angeline Gillis. The appointment of 12 additional members will bring the total membership to 15.
Free YMCA Shuttle starts Tuesday April 6
The Pictou County YMCA shuttle service is set to begin on Monday, April 6 and runs every 30 minutes, 3 days a week (Monday & Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm plus Saturday from 9am to 12pm) between the Aberdeen Business Centre and the local Y. The shuttle is free, but pre-registration, or a referral is required. Contact Lori Morison at lori.morison@pcymca.ca or 902-752-0202.
HALEY LANDS BIG ROLE WITH NATIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE
Lisa Haley’s incredible portfolio now includes the job of National Women’s Hockey League senior vice-president of operations. Haley, who is originally from Westville, is already head coach of both Ryerson University’s women’s hockey team, and the Hungarian team competing in May’s women’s world championship in Nova Scotia. The National Women’s Hockey League hired Haley to oversee multiple league operations including the draft, player development and relationships with other hockey entities. Haley, who lives in Cobourg, Ont., was an assistant coach of Canadian women’s teams that won Olympic gold in 2014 and a world championship in 2012. She’s coached U Sports women’s hockey for more than 20 years, first with the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the Atlantic University Sport conference and then the Rams for the last decade in Toronto. (With files from the Canadian Press)
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