It appears as if nothing has changed in the plans to distribute the Moderna vaccine in the Yukon despite its approval this morning by Health Canada.

During the weekly COVID-19 media briefing held Tuesday morning, Premier Sandy Silver said the vaccine could be available as soon as 48 hours after being approved for Canadian use.

That timeline was part of a dry run the Yukon government participated in last week with other jurisdictions in Canada, Silver said.

The exercise simulated bringing in the vaccines from storehouses in Europe via military aircraft.

The dry run – which the Yukon government was silent on until Tuesday – ended last Thursday, with the simulated product arriving undamaged and still at the cold temperature it was shipped at, the premier said.

During an interview with the Star this morning, Silver said he was excited about the news.

However, he wasn’t privy to any of the details on how it might affect the distribution of the vaccine, he said, nor whether the timeline would be accelerated.

“It’s fantastic news,” he said.

Following this morning’s announcement by federal officials, Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost issued a statement saying nothing has changed in the government’s distribution plans.

“We are very pleased that Health Canada has granted final regulatory approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine,” Frost said.

“Approval means the vaccine meets Canada’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.

“This is the exciting news Yukoners have been waiting for, and our team is ready to begin vaccinating Yukoners as soon as possible.

“Now that the vaccine is approved, Health Canada and the manufacturer will provide training instructions for the handling and delivery of the vaccine,” the minister added.

“We expect doses to arrive by the end of December and, following the training of staff, vaccinations will begin the first week of January.

“Our first delivery will be 7,200 doses, which is enough to vaccinate 3,600 Yukoners, as Moderna requires two doses delivered one month apart.”

More doses will arrive later in January, Frost said.

That contradicts statements she has made along with Silver in recent weeks that the Yukon would receive enough doses to vaccinate 75 per cent of the eligible adult population in one lump shipment.

The first Yukoners eligible for the vaccine will be long-term care residents and staff.

“I urge all Yukoners to continue practising the safe six and wear a mask,” Frost said.

“We cannot let our guard down, and must continue to be vigilant against possible spread of the virus.”

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