Get vaccinated against COVID, says N.L.'s top doctor, but no need to self-isolate

While Newfoundland and Labrador's top doctor is recommending people get the latest COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available, she says overall the virus is now considered like other respiratory ailments.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province's chief medical officer of health, said the public should continue getting vaccines because they can still stop its spread.

"We know that the vaccine is effective in reducing severe outcomes — so hospitalization and death — and it can certainly help to reduce the spread of the disease," she told CBC News.

"So we certainly do recommend that people get vaccinations when the new fall campaign starts."

LISTEN | Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says N.L. is in good shape when it comes to COVID-19 going into the fall: 

St John's Morning Show6:15Dr. Janice Fitzgerald on this fall's Covid outlook

It's nearly fall, and children and teachers are heading back to their classrooms next week. We spoke with Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, about this fall's Covid outlook.

Fitzgerald estimates the campaign to promote the most recent vaccine will be rolled out in late October.

"We'll be working through some of the more finite plans of that over the next few weeks," she said.

The vaccine is available to anyone over the age of six months, she said, but people who are at high risk for severe disease, including older people who have severe health conditions, should make it a priority.

Stable numbers

According to the province's respiratory dashboard, which is updated on the last Friday of the month, there were six people hospitalized due to COVID-19, with no one in critical condition, over the most recent reporting period, Aug. 18-24.

There was one death in that same reporting period, and the vaccination rate for eligible people is at 19.2 per cent.

Fitzgerald said that while some areas are reporting an increase in cases and hospitalization rates, that isn't happening in Newfoundland and Labrador, where rates are stable.

"We're seeing relatively stable epidemiology over this summer," she said.

During the height of pandemic restrictions, individuals were told to isolate themselves from others to stop the spread. Fitzgerald said now there is no self-isolation recommendation.

"COVID is just like any other respiratory disease at this point. We're recommending that people stay home while they're feeling really unwell," said Fitzgerald.

From a public health perspective, she said, they don't need to test the general public to inform their response.

COVID-19 tests were previously used to let people know whether they needed to self-isolate, she said, but since that recommendation is no longer in place, there isn't the same need for public testing.

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