As COVID-19 cases skyrocket in Nova Scotia, our province continues to move at a snail’s pace in its booster shot roll-out under the Houston government.

Leading epidemiologists, including NACI, have advised that a booster dose is crucial against the highly-transmissible Omicron variant and most provinces and territories have heeded that advice – Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, PEI, Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon have all made third doses available to adults over 18 years of age.

Nova Scotia falls way behind, only offering shots to ages 60 and over, healthcare workers, and immunocompromised.

“Booster shots are the best chance at reducing transmissibility with the Omicron variant,” says Health and Wellness critic Zach Churchill. “The Houston government not expanding their availability in Nova Scotia is a glaring anomaly in this country.”

“We have outbreaks, community spread and transmission among young people, all before the holidays when families and friends will get together. At the very least, the Houston government needs to expedite the delivery of booster shots to everyone 18 and over.”