A total of 1,950 doctors, nurses and support staff will be the first to receive immunization against the worldwide pandemic as part of a pilot project to test the delivers and storage processes for the new vaccine.
“Today is an incredibly exciting day in our fight against COVID-19, as nearly 2,000 people who have been on the front-lines delivering care since the beginning of the pandemic start being immunized with their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” Premier Scott Moe said in a press release. “As the first health care workers in Saskatchewan receive the vaccine, I encourage all Saskatchewan residents to get vaccinated, when the vaccine is made available to them.”
The first recipients of the vaccine will be healthcare workers in intensive care units, emergency departments and COVID units at the Regina General and Pasqua hospitals, along with staff at testing and assessment centres. Recipients will receive their second dose 21 days following the initial injection; the current roll-out is expected to take place over the new few days.
“I have seen the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the patients I have cared for in the intensive care unit, as well as its effects on their families,” critical care physician Dr. Jeffrey Betcher said. “Accepting the vaccine is part of my responsibility as a physician. It will protect me, my patients, my colleagues, friends and family.”
Dr. Betcher is to be among the first health care workers to receive the vaccine in Saskatchewan.
The Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine in cold storage.The vaccine rollout will take place in a phased approach through the province’s Vaccine Delivery Plan. Phase One will feature a focus on immunizing priority populations who are at higher risk of exposure to the virus as well as those more at risk of serious illness and will begin later in December.
The Ministry of Health will work with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Athabasca Health Authority, and First Nations Jurisdictions to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to priority populations.
Officials are planning for the logistics of transporting, storing and distributing the vaccine as it becomes available. The second phase of the Vaccine Delivery Plan is anticipated to begin in April and will continue priority population immunization while providing widespread vaccine access to immunize the general population.
Dr. Betcher reminded people not to become complacent because of the vaccine’s arrival, noting that it is critical to continue following public health orders and practicing the basics including, frequent hand-washing, physical distancing, masking and staying home if you have symptoms.
For more information on Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 vaccine planning, visit https://saskatchewan.ca/COVID19/vaccine.
