A message from Dr. Shannon McDonald, Acting Chief Medical Officer
Now that the FNHA is starting to roll out second-dose vaccination clinics, many people are wondering whether they can return to their previous lives.
Unfortunately, the answer at this time is, “No, not yet.” Remember, no vaccines provide 100 per cent protection. You can still get sick, even after receiving a vaccine, although vaccines do greatly reduce the chance of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. So getting the first and even the second dose will not change what we need to do. But please remain hopeful; that time will come.
You may ask whether it is worth getting the second dose if restrictions are going to continue anyway. The answer is, “Yes, absolutely.” The second dose provides you with much better protection from getting ill, and for a longer period of time. It also decreases the chance that you will unknowingly transmit the virus to others. As we break chains of transmission, we will be able to return to more normal ways of living.