Minister of Health and Social Services Julie Green said that the territorial government continues to recommend that as many eligible people as possible get vaccinated, but there is no set target vaccination rate.
Her comments responded to a series of questions from Yellowknife North MLA Rylund Johnson in the legislative assembly on May 28 as he sought clarity on the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 direction around managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Green said while a vaccination target rate for adults is important, the chief public health officer has to take other factors into account account when it comes to easing restrictions. These include keeping an eye on case counts and threats of variants of concern elsewhere in the country.
SA国际影视传媒淲e do not at this point have a specific number,SA国际影视传媒� Green said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been saying to people that they should be getting vaccinated if at all possible. The higher the vaccination rate, the better off we all are.SA国际影视传媒�
Last March, Green called into question the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 earlier set goal of having 75 per cent of all adults fully vaccination by summer 2021.
To date, 60 per cent of NWT residents 18 years old and older have been fully vaccinated, according to the NWT COVID-19 Dashboard.
Johnson said having the 75 per cent target as a goal for the territory represented, for residents, SA国际影视传媒渁 light at the end of the tunnelSA国际影视传媒� and something they could look forward to.
SA国际影视传媒淚 recognize at that time (March) there were changing signs with some variants, but I believe people now need a vaccination target,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淕etting over this hurdle of 60 per cent vaccination, people want to know if we get here, it will actually encourage more people to get vaccinated.SA国际影视传媒�
The minister pointed out that after the NJ Macpherson School outbreak began in April, the GNWT has seen how vulnerable unvaccinated people are since almost all cases at the school involved children.
SA国际影视传媒淭he median age was eight and half years old so they are not eligible for vaccines at this point,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淪o having a vaccination rate is fine but there are pockets of people who are not vaccinated who we have to take into consideration as well.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒楴ot in lockdownSA国际影视传媒�
Johnson also asked if residents are going to be allowed to take non-essential trips in the near future, providing they are fully vaccinated.
Green replied saying people are free to do so already, they just have to ensure they self-isolate.
SA国际影视传媒淭he fact is weSA国际影视传媒檙e not in lock down here,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淢embers of this house have traveled during the time that non-essential travel has not been recommended.
SA国际影视传媒淪o itSA国际影视传媒檚 not really true to say that people are stuck here. People have made the choice to travel.SA国际影视传媒�
Currently residents are recommended not to take non-essential trips in and out of the territory and are advised against inter-provincial travel.
The Emerging Wisely document, published by the territorial government in June 2020, still states COVID-19 restrictions, like restricted travel, will remain in place until a vaccine or treatment is available.
Johnson stressed that much of the context around when that document was drafted last year SA国际影视传媒� including fears about the health care system being overwhelmed SA国际影视传媒� now appear irrelevant a year later.
SA国际影视传媒淭here was talk of waves, there was talk of ICU beds and ventilators, he said. SA国际影视传媒淕iven that we are now at a 60 per cent vaccination target, much of that language has disappeared. So ISA国际影视传媒檓 confused as to what the main goal we are trying to mitigate is.SA国际影视传媒�
The minister admitted that the document is due for an update but questions around risk assessment and how public health restrictions are eased will be for Kandola to answer.
Green said that the phased approach from the original Emerging Wisely document will be removed and the easing of travel and border restrictions will be discussed in relation to COVID rates decreasing and vaccinations rising in the rest of the country.
SA国际影视传媒淥verall vaccine uptake in the NWT will be a key, internal factor to determine what measures can be eased.SA国际影视传媒�
Since May 5, when the GNWT expanded its vaccine program to youth, 1,200 young people from Yellowknife, Dettah, NSA国际影视传媒檇ilo and Behchoko have received their first dose of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine.
