Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss respiratory illnesses and the province's fall vaccine rollout plan. 

Last fall saw a spike in respiratory illness cases as well as an early start of flu season, according to Nova Scotia's Respiratory Watch Update for October 2 - 15, 2022.

During Tuesday's announcement, Dr. Strang said Nova Scotia is offering updated COVID-19 vaccines to Nova Scotians ages six months and older. “We’re still at relatively low levels,” Dr. Strang said about the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. “Far less than we’ve had in previous waves of the pandemic.”

Health Canada recently approved an updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine that targets the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant of the COVID-19 virus. 

Masking remains a choice throughout the province but is still required in some healthcare facilities. 

The province also announced that the high-dose flu vaccine will be free for residents 65 and over.  The vaccines will be available later this month -- Dr. Strang said it is safe to receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. 

“Take it seriously, take the appropriate precautions but we don’t need to be alarmed about this,” Dr. Strang said.

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