The province is expected to announce more details on the fall COVID vaccine program next week.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald doesn’t have all the details at this time, but expects it will roll out in a similar fashion to previous programs.

She says pharmacists, physicians and public health officials have all been involved in providing the COVID vaccine in the past, and she expects much the same this year.

In the meantime, new variants are behind a recent increase in COVID cases. She says the latest version of the vaccine will be available for distribution this fall.

She says the newest approved vaccines help to combat the XBB variant. She says some of the mutations circulating right now are descendants of that variant and health officials anticipate that the latest vaccine will be effective against what is now in circulation.