As the Yukon counted its 59th COVID-19 case Monday, the territorial government has identified priority recipients of the Moderna vaccine after it arrives.

That arrival could be as soon as the end of the month, earlier than initially projected.

As in other Canadian jurisdictions, the government announced Tuesday, the priority populations will include:

• residents and staff of long-term care homes and shelters;

• health care workers;

• people over 80 years of age; and

Yukoners living in rural and remote communities.

“We are happy to hear that the Moderna vaccine is closer to approvals and that it could arrive in Yukon as early as the end of December,” said Health Minister Pauline Frost.

As the federal government determines the final details, Frost said, “we will continue to work on the specifics of vaccine delivery in Yukon as identified in our vaccine strategy.

“We will begin by making the vaccine available to the most vulnerable Yukoners and those who are at the highest risk.”

She was reacting to Tuesday’s announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that his government has signed an agreement to purchase the vaccine, which he said is ideal for the remote North because it doesn’t need severe-cold storage temperatures.

Health Canada has yet to approve its use, but Frost said she had information that it’s coming any day.

“It’s very exciting. We expect it very soon.”

The vaccines will be flown into the Yukon on military aircraft, Frost said, and territorial officials will assume control from there.

“We will continue to work with our federal colleagues on the delivery logistics so that as soon as the vaccine is approved and ready for distribution, we can begin rolling it out to Yukoners,” Frost said.

“We have already received three freezers to help with the storage of the vaccine.”

Approximately 50,000 doses will arrive at once, Frost said.“It’ll be in one large batch.

“We believe the most logical course of action is to send Yukon’s vaccines in one large delivery so that roll-out can begin and continue as quickly as possible.

“We have reassurance that Yukon will receive enough doses to vaccinate 75 per cent of the population in early 2021,” Frost added.

“That, according to projections from our health team, means every Yukon adult who wants it will be able to be vaccinated in early 2021.”

Current plans call for three teams to be set up to distribute the vaccine, with a central clinic in Whitehorse à la the flu vaccine, and two mobile teams visiting the outlying communities, she told reporters.

“We want to catch the mass here, and then we want to inoculate the communities,” she said. “That’s the objective.”

At the central location in Whitehorse, as many as 1,000 to 1,200 people could be vaccinated in a day.

The shots will be free to recipients, as the federal government is covering the costs across the country. There is no vaccine available for children.

“I encourage all Yukoners to continue to practise the Safe 6 and wear a mask,” Frost said.

“Yukoners should also keep in mind that the vaccine will be a turning point, but it will not be the end of COVID-19 safety precautions. We must all work together to keep each other safe.”

Case 59, reported Monday, is in Whitehorse, linked to a previous case, said the office of Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer of health.

“Health status: the person is self-isolating and recovering at home,” the office said.

“Public exposure notifications: none required, as the person was already self-isolating prior to when the infectious period began.”

Anyone experiencing any COVID-19-like symptoms should self-isolate and remain at home, take the self-assessment online and arrange to get tested.

Nunavut, meanwhile, reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

There are 45 active cases in that territory, all in Arviat. To date, 213 Nunavummiut have recovered from the virus.

The Northwest Territories reported a case in Inuvik on Tuesday, bringing the territory’s total count to 22.

– With a file from Tim Giilck