Yukon youth aged 12-17, get ready to roll up your sleeves.

The territorial a and the chief medical officer of health, Dr. Brendan Hanley, announced today arrangements have been made to obtain enough Pfizer vaccine doses to inoculate residents in that age range.

The logistics and timing are still being worked out.

Nearly 3,000 youth are in that target age group territorially, with approximately 2,100 of them in the Whitehorse area.

The objective is to have as many of the young people vaccinated as possible to begin the school year next fall to add “another layer of protection” against the COIVD-19 virus, Hanley told this morning’s weekly media briefing.

The timeline isn’t clear as to when the vaccines will be available and clinics can begin.

New Health and Social Services Minister Tracy McPhee said she hoped the inoculations can begin within four weeks and be complete by mid-July.

The start of the clinics would correspond with the end of the current school year.

Pfizer is the first of the vaccines to be approved for that age range in Canada.

However, Hanley expects the Moderna vaccine currently being used in the Yukon will be available for youth before the end of the summer.

Initially, the Pfizer vaccine was turned down for use in the territories because it requires ultra-cold storage that made it difficult to move among communities.

Hanley said some modifications in handling and storage have resolved most of those problems, making it more useful for the Yukon.

The ultra-cold storage facilities are available in Whitehorse, but not in the communities.

“Pfizer is becoming easier to use, more similar to Moderna,” Hanley added.

According to a government news release, vaccination clinics for youth are expected to begin soon.

“Youth vaccine clinics will be held in most communities and medical travel will be supported for those places where a youth clinic is not held.”

McPhee stated in the news release, “Our youth have made incredible contributions to keep our communities safe over the course of this pandemic.

“We are excited we are now able to offer vaccines for our youth. Getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to protect you, your family, your community and your future.”

Hanley followed up with, “As we have seen elsewhere, new variants are affecting young people more than before.

“COVID-19 can also result in long-term effects, even in young and otherwise healthy people.

“Vaccinating our young people will help keep them safe while helping to protect our whole community. I urge all youth and parents to take advantage of this opportunity to get vaccinated.”

On Tuesday, Hanley confirmed two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the territory’s total to 84 cases. There is currently one active case in the Yukon.

Case 83 involves an adult in Whitehorse and is related to international travel.

There were no public exposures.

The individual is isolating in a safe and effective manner, Hanley said.

Case 84 is a Yukon resident who acquired the infection out of the territory, was tested out of the territory and will remain Outside until they’re non-infectious.

This person is included in the Yukon count but does not raise the number of active cases in the territory.