Yukoners could be rolling up their sleeves to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as early as January.

On Thursday afternoon, territorial government officials announced a plan to receive the Moderna vaccine in quantities great enough to immunize nearly every Yukon adult who is willing to accept it.

The plan is contingent on the vaccine receiving final approval from Health Canada officials, so that deadline could be somewhat in flux.

The announcement came from Premier Sandy Silver, Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost and Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer of health, during a media conference.

The government plans to distribute the vaccine using its established flu vaccine model as a template.

Up to 1,000 vaccinations a day would be possible under the plan. Mobile clinics would be set up to roam the more rural and remote communities.

“It’s an extraordinary day for our country and for the Yukon,” Hanley said.

He said he was excited for the chance to work with the Moderna vaccine, which doesn’t have the logistical difficulties of the already-approved Pfizer vaccine, which requires ultra-cold temperatures of up to -80 C.

The initial target is to have enough vaccine doses to immunize 75 per cent of adults in the territory. That should be sufficient for initial needs, and more will be ordered as necessary.

That 75 per cent figure will also be enough to begin creating herd immunity, Hanley said.

Options are being prepared in the event the Moderna vaccine doesn’t receive final approval in the expected time frame of the next few weeks, Hanley said. That could include other vaccines coming on the market.

“That doesn’t affect our plan for distribution, though,” he explained. “The journey beings today.”

Silver said “it’s an extremely important day. But this is a marathon, not a sprint. The finish line may be in sight, but we have to keep racing.”

Both he and Hanley warned against relaxing the procedures put in place to help control the spread of the virus.

The vaccine still has to get here, and it will require two doses. That means it could take months for the benefits to ripple through the population.

The control measures currently in place must continue until then, Silver said.

“We need to stay focused, and practise the Safe Six Plus One and use our masks.”

It remains to be seen how well the public will embrace the vaccine as well. Any reluctance to accept the shots could slow the herd immunity effect, and it’s impossible to predict ahead of time.

“But every adult who wants it can be vaccinated in the New Year,” Silver said.

The shots will be free to recipients, with the federal government covering the costs across the country.

“Over the course of the pandemic, Yukoners have come together to protect our territory from COVID-19,” Frost said.

“Now, it’s very important that Yukoners choose to vaccinate. It’s the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Over time, widespread immunization will allow us to return to a life without COVID-19 restrictions.”

No COVID-19 vaccines for children have been approved. Hanley said Moderna is beginning some clinical trials with people under 18.

The initial trials of the vaccine showed an effectiveness rate of approximately 94 per cent, Hanley said.

Of the small number of participants who did become infected with the virus, none developed a severe version of the disease.

Both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut will also be able to access the Moderna vaccine.

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