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Province unveils second dose, youth vaccine strategies

At their latest COVID-19 update on Thursday, the province unveiled its plans to administer second doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the public, as well as plans to include youth in the vaccine rollout. Health minister Paul Merriman, Sask.
Paul Merriman
Paul Merriman. Facebook photo.

At their latest COVID-19 update on Thursday, the province unveiled its plans to administer second doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the public, as well as plans to include youth in the vaccine rollout.

Health minister Paul Merriman, Sask. Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone and emergency operations chief Derek Miller explained the strategy, with the main news being that all Saskatchewan residents are to receive their second doses by July 31.

Details are as follows:

Second doses will begin to be offered on May 17. On that day anyone who is 85 and older, or anyone who received their first dose before Feb. 15 will be eligible to book their second dose. 

Second doses will be done according to the same age-based/priority sequencing of the first doses. Eligibility will be driven by age, or the date or receiving the first dose. They will move as quickly as possible down through the age groups based on supply of vaccines.

The plan is to make sure every Saskatchewan resident gets a second dose starting 13 weeks after their first dose. That’s well within the 16 week guidelines that were recommended, however Merriman indicated it could happen even sooner than that, depending on supply.

Miller said as supply increases, their intent is to shorten than interval from 13 weeks down to the manufacturer-recommended interval of three or four weeks, depending on vaccine type.

The intent is for all Saskatchewan residents will be able to be fully vaccinated with two doses by July 31. The exception is the single-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

As for how people will know when to get their second dose, residents will be made aware through government and SHA news releases, on the COVID-19 vaccine website, social media and other means.

Saskatchewan residents are being asked to make note of when they received their first dose, which is on the immunization card people receive following their first shot.

Those who misplaced their card or do not remember the date are urged to call 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829) for that information.

There will be some groups within the clinically extremely vulnerable who will be prioritized. Organ transplant and oncology patients will be able to book their second doses by May 17.

At this time, the plan is to offer a second dose which matches the brand of the first dose. 

For the second dose, during the booking process the clinic/pharmacy will validate the timing and brand of your first dose to make sure you are receiving your second dose in the recommended time frame. The type of vaccine will be advertised at the site beforehand, to ensure people are receiving the same brand for the second dose.

Some details were also unveiled about plans to expand the vaccine rollout to youth.

With approval of Pfizer vaccines for ages 12 and up, the provincial population eligible to receive the vaccine is being expanded by approximately 91,000 young people. 

Saskatchewan plans to offer first doses to eligible youth by the end of June. The delivery of first doses will be in school-based programs, pharmacies, or at SHA clinics, and will happen by the end of the school year. 

More details, including the parental consent details and eligibility dates, are being finalized and more communication, will come prior to the commencement of those programs.

Merriman urged people to be ready to get their second doses, and noted the vaccines are effective in cutting down the current COVID-19 numbers.

“Vaccines are working. Today, our seven-day average in new cases is 216. That’s down 24 percent from the peak of 285 on April 15, three weeks ago today,” said Merriman.

“After 14 long months, we are finally moving past the point of just controlling COVID-19, we’re now in a position where we can beat COVID-19. But there’s only one way to do that and that’s why everyone getting vaccinated.”

SHA CEO Livingstone stressed the importance of people getting their second dose, calling it “critical to getting the very best protection against COVID(-19) for our province. We’re nearly at the end of this thing and every single one of us needs to finish this fight.”