The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released guidance on the interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in Canada, meaning the potential of receiving a different type of COVID-19 vaccine for your second dose than what you received for your first dose.
Effective immediately, the provincial vaccination roll-out plan will incorporate this guidance to ensure safe and rapid deployment of vaccines to residents. Their recommendations are based on current scientific evidence of the vaccines and expert review.
• Persons who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine may receive either AstraZeneca vaccine or an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) for their second dose, unless contraindicated.
• Persons who received a first dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) should be offered the same mRNA vaccine for their second dose. If the same mRNA vaccine is not readily available or unknown, another mRNA vaccine can be considered interchangeable and should be offered to complete the vaccine series.
Saskatchewan anticipates having an adequate supply of all vaccine types in order to provide residents with the second dose they prefer. All vaccines approved in Canada are safe.
Health Canada and provincial health public health officials will be monitoring the interchangeability of vaccines to ensure effective protection against COVID-19. All residents need to receive two doses of the two-dose vaccines in order to achieve the best possible protection.
AstraZeneca Second Dose Availability Begins June 7
Effective Monday, June 7, the Saskatchewan Health Authority will be establishing clinics for second doses of AstraZeneca to anyone who is eligible, according to the provincial age eligibility and date of first dose. Details on which populations are now eligible for second doses administration are available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine-booking.
Details on clinic locations and hours will be announced this week. Note that not all vaccine types are available at all clinic locations; vaccine type available by clinic is listed when that clinic is advertised.
Based on when your age category or date of first dose becomes eligible, you may be receiving the second dose of your AstraZeneca vaccine as soon as eight weeks after your first dose. This includes those Saskatchewan residents under 40 who received AstraZeneca as their first dose.
Once you are eligible to receive your second dose, you remain eligible and may consider delaying until the recommended 12-week interval is reached though note that vaccine choice will be dependent on those vaccines that are available at the time you make your appointment.
You will not be required to receive AstraZeneca as a second dose. Anyone who received AstraZeneca as a first dose is eligible to receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their second dose if that is your preference.
An additional 5,304 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, including 195 doses in the southeast region, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 730,952.
The age of eligibility for second doses will extend to those who are 65 years and older, starting on June 2.
Daily COVID-19 Statistics
There are 86 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on June 1, bringing the provincial total to 46,834 cases. There were no new COVID cases in the Weyburn area, and there is one active case in the area, with 86 active cases for the southeast region.
One new death is reported today in the 70-79 age group from the Central East zone.
The new cases are located in the following zones: Far North West, 1; Far North East, 1; Northwest, 4; North Central, 13; Northeast, 2; Saskatoon, 26; Central East, 4; Regina, 11; Southwest, 7; South Central, 13; and Southeast, 1.
Recoveries total 45,022, including 181 new recoveries, and 1,272 cases are considered active.
There are 108 people in hospital. Eighty-five people are receiving inpatient care: North West, 6; North Central, 5; North East, 1; Saskatoon, 33; Central East, 2; Regina, 31; South West, 2; South Central, 3; and South East, 2. Twenty-three people are in intensive care: North West, 1; North Central, 4; Saskatoon, 11; Central East, 1; and Regina, 6.
The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 134 (11 per 100,000).
There were 1,719 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on May 31, including 44 tests in the southeast region.
