The Government of Saskatchewan released its COVID-19 Immunization Delivery Plan on Tuesday, and was laid out by Minister of Health Paul Merriman and SHA CEO Scott Livingstone during the Feb. 9 COVID-19 briefing, held at the Legislature in Regina.
Phase 2 of vaccination sequencing will focus on the general population in 10-year increments, starting with ages 60 to 69. This phase will also include targeted vaccinations for adults and staff in group homes for persons with intellectual disabilities and shelters. Clinically extremely vulnerable adults will also be included as a priority in Phase 2. A complete list of the clinically vulnerable health conditions is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine.
“Saskatchewan is working to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said. “The commencement of mass vaccinations will depend on the number and consistency of vaccine deliveries from the federal government. We are hopeful that mass vaccinations can start as soon as April, based on the current vaccine delivery schedule from the federal government.”
The pair expressed almost palpable exasperation with the low numbers of vaccine doses coming from the federal government. Merriman noted, “This week, we expect to receive fewer than 2,000 doses here in Saskatchewan. To date, we have received 45,000 doses. There are about 190,000 people in our Phase 1. And as a two-dose vaccine, That's 380,000 shots. That means, so far, we have only been able to do 12 per cent of the people identified in Phase 1."
Phase 2 of Saskatchewan’s Immunization Delivery Plan is built on the foundation of age as the main risk factor. Age is the number one risk factor for severe outcomes, hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19. People of advanced age are also more likely to be clinically extremely vulnerable or living with other chronic conditions.
The goal of the immunization program is to
• Protect the most high risk and vulnerable.
• Minimize serious illness and death.
• Protect the capacity of the health care system.
• Minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Phase 1 is currently underway for high-risk populations, such as people of advanced age, residents and staff in long-term and personal care homes, health care workers in emergency departments, COVID-19 units, testing and assessment centres, intensive care units and other high-risk settings. This phase also includes residents over 50 living in northern remote communities and those over 70 living in the community as vaccine is available.
Phase 2 could get underway as early as April, but will depend on vaccine supplies. The province will be setting up over 226 clinics in 181 communities, including numerous drive-through, mobile and mass clinics. On top of that, pharmacies across the province will also take part. Livingstone noted that for the last round of influenza shots, 385 pharmacies in 113 communities took part, accounting for about half of the total vaccinations done for the flu last year.
Information will be publicly shared to let you know when it’s your turn to be vaccinated, how to register for an appointment, the different types of clinics available and how to find the closest clinics to you. Appointments can be booked online at www.saskatchewan.ca or through HealthLine 811 when phase two begins.
Every vaccination given will contribute to keeping us all safer.
Details and regular updates to the Saskatchewan Immunization Delivery Plan will be available at www.Saskatchewan.ca/covid-19-vaccine.
