Following direction from the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), the Northwest Territories (NWT) began offering COVID-19 vaccines to non-resident rotational workers at mineral and petroleum projects. This new priority group began receiving vaccines on Friday, March 12, 2021.

Included in this priority group are workers at Imperial Oil in Norman Wells, as well as mines operated by Rio Tinto (Diavik), Dominion (Ekati), and De Beers (Gahcho Kué). Other non-resident rotational workers will continue to be considered by the CPHO on a case-by-case basis.

Increasing immunity at these worksites will protect residents, their families, and the communities NWT residents return to between shifts - particularly the most remote and vulnerable communities with limited access to health care. Every dose given in the NWT will continue to boost the territory’s overall defense against COVID-19.

The decision to vaccinate non-resident rotational workers is supported by the federal government and is occurring in other jurisdictions across Canada reliant on transitional workers to deliver essential services. Recent remote worksite outbreaks in the NWT and the development of new COVID-19 variants in other parts of Canada have highlighted the importance of protecting rotational workers living and working inside our borders.

The NWT is ahead of schedule offering first doses to residents aged 18 years of age and older in all 33 NWT communities. Plans to vaccinate non-resident rotational workers will not prevent NWT residents from getting their promised doses of vaccine. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has requested 12,000 additional doses from the federal government specifically for non-resident workers over and above the original allotment of 51,600 doses. Any NWT resident rotational workers who may have missed getting a dose in their home community will also be offered the vaccine if/when the NWT vaccination team visits their worksite.

With the arrival of the fifth shipment of vaccine expected next week, the NWT is well-positioned to provide both doses of the vaccine to 75% of its adult population by the end of April 2021. The GNWT will not incur any additional costs associated with vaccinating non-resident rotational workers.

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“We’ve said since the beginning that non-resident workers not included in our initial priority groups are invited to email the CPHO to ask for an individual exemption. Though this still remains an option, I am glad to see that these large worksites have been added to the priority list which will ensure additional safety for NWT residents and communities.”

-Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick Facts:

• Non-residents workers working at the sites indicated above have/will receive notification about vaccine dates/times through their employer.
• To date the NWT has received four shipments of the Moderna vaccine, totalling 35,300 doses.
• Every resident over the age of 18, in all 33 communities across the NWT is now being offered the COVID-19 vaccine. The NWT vaccine schedule can be found by visiting www.nthssa.ca/covid-vaccine.
• The number of vaccine doses given in the NWT is updated weekly at www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19.

Related links:

• GNWT Information and Resources About the COVID-19 Vaccine
• NWT COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Schedule
• Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine: What you should know
• Immunity for our Communities: The NWT COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy

Media Requests:

Damien Healy

Manager of Communications

Department of Health and Social Services

Government of the Northwest Territories

Damien_Healy@gov.nt.ca

(867) 767-9052 ext. 49034