This year brought with it anxiety, uncertainty and economic turmoil, but its tail end supplied a glimmer of hope as the province continues to acquire shipments of COVID-19 vaccines.

The latest of those landed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Thursday afternoon, according to federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan, who took to Twitter with the announcement.

These vaccines, the first to arrive in the province from Moderna, will be administered to isolated Indigenous communities throughout Labrador’s north coast.

Another shipment is expected during the week of Jan. 11, for a total of 2,400 doses to be spread out between Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Rigolet and Makkovik.

Makkovik will be the first community to receive the vaccination, Gerald Asivak, Nunatsiavut Government’s health minister told CBC News on Wednesday.

“Our plan right now is the healthcare workers and the elderly within each community, aged 18 and up,” Asivak said, with a vaccination rate of about 90 per cent.

More vaccinations are expected throughout the first quarter of the 2021.

No new cases Thursday

Newfoundland and Labrador also reported no new cases of COVID-19, for the second day straight, to mark the end of 2020.

There has also been a new recovery, in the Eastern Health region, lowering the province’s active caseload to 17, according to a media release earlier Thursday.

One person is in hospital due to the virus. In total, 72,527 people have been tested as of Thursday’s update — 380 more since Wednesday.

There will be no update from the province’s Department of Health on Friday, because of the recognized statutory holiday. COVID-19 updates will resume on Jan. 2.

View the article on CBC here.