Vaccine coverage in Nunavik, Quebec, increases to 45% of the population, active cases of COVID-19 to 114 – Eye on the Arctic

The number of vaccinations in Nunavik, the Inuit region of the Quebec Arctic, increased slightly between September 19 and October 19, but remains far from the target of 75% of the board of health.

“Vaccination coverage between September 19 and October 17 increased by 5% for the entire population,” the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“Those who received 2 doses reached 45%. More than half (59%) of those who could be vaccinated received two doses. We need to redouble our efforts to reach the 75% target.

The latest figures come amid a COVID-19 outbreak this month, the first time the region has experienced large-scale community transmission since March 2020.

Immunization coverage in Nunavik by community as of October 19

The most recent data on vaccination coverage in Nunavik.

The first number refers to the percentage of the total population that received two doses. The second number is the percentage of the eligible population over 12 who are fully

More than 80 percent immunization coverage of people aged 55 and over; and more than 50% coverage of the whole community:

• Kuujjuaq 62% (75%)
• Kangiqsualujjuaq 59% (80%)

More than 60% vaccination coverage of people aged 55 and over; and over 35 percent coverage of the entire community:

• Aupaluk 46% (58%)
• Quaqtaq 45% (59%)
• Kangiqsujuaq 44% (60%)
• Puvirnituq 39% (51%)
• Kangirsuk 35% (47%)
• Tasiujaq 35% (55%)

Coverage below light immunization level:

• Inukjuak 32% (45%)
• Akulivik 31% (44%)
• Salluit 31% (42%)

Source: Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services

As of Tuesday, there were 114 active cases in Nunavik, with a first case reported in the Ungava community of Quaqtaq on Tuesday.

Five communities remain on red alert meaning they are in confinement until further notice, non-essential services have been closed and visits between people living in different households are prohibited.

The five communities are: Kangiqsualujjuaq, Kuujjuaq, Kangirsuk, Salluit and Ivujivik.

Suspended flights, inter-community travel prohibited

As active cases continue to increase, particularly on the Ungava coast, health authorities have suspended all flights between the Ungava coast of Nunavik and the Hudson coast of Nunavik as of Tuesday.

The only exceptions will be compulsory travel by airline employees.

Number of cases reported in Nunavik as of Wednesday, October 27

The most recent counts of community cases in Nunavik are:

• • Ivujivik – 9 active cases
  • Kangirsuk – 49 active cases
  • Salluit – 48 active cases
  • Kangiqsujuaq – 2 active cases
  • Kuujjuaq – 5 active cases
  • Quaqtaq – 1 active case
  • Kangiqsualujjuaq, 0 active cases, but proof of community transmission, the village remains on red alert

There were also 8 active cases outside of Nunavik:

• 8 are in Ullivik, the Dorval residence used for residents of Nunavik in Montreal for health services

-Source: Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services

Inter-community travel, whether by plane, ATV, boat or snowmobile, is also prohibited except for essential services, in certain humanitarian cases or if travel to a community is required by court order.

“Every organization must consider to what extent the displacement of an employee, a consultant, a contractor – and a customer in the case of a health center – is essential and cannot be postponed”, a declared Marie Rochette, director of public health for Nunavik, in the signed order. October 26.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn (at) cbc.ca

Related stories from the north:

Canada: Health officials in Canada’s Northwest Territories extend BehchokÇ« COVID-19 containment order until October 29, CBC News

Greenland: Greenland lifts COVID-19 restrictions on direct travel to small communities, Eye on the Arctic

Iceland: Iceland to relax COVID-19 rules on October 20, plans to fully lift restrictions next month, Eye on the Arctic

United States: Rural Alaska in danger as COVID-19 outbreak floods distant hospitals, The Associated Press

Antarctic: UK delivers COVID-19 vaccine to UK station in Antarctica, Eye on the Arctic