Here is a summary of the COVID-19 news shared over the past week, collected by Moose Jaw Today.com staff:
The vaccine eligibility age has lowered for the last time for the first dose program, now including all residents aged 12 and older.
Eligible individuals may book a vaccine appointment from a public health clinic either online or by phoning the Vaccine Call Centre, or visit any participating pharmacy, walk-in or drive-through clinic, or mobile clinic.
Only the Pfizer vaccine has been nationally approved for individuals under the age of 18, so youth are reminded to attend a clinic that is delivering the Pfizer brand specifically in order to receive a vaccination.
Now that the vaccine program has expanded to include youth, officials confirmed that a school-based immunization program will be providing COVID-19 vaccine through schools, beginning in June.
For youth looking to receive their first dose before then, they are welcome to attend a public clinic or pharmacy appointment and opt-out of the school program.
Written consent to be vaccinated will be required from all individuals under the age of 18, and will approve both first and second doses. Vaccination will not be mandatory in schools at this time.
Second doses for youth are expected to be available in late July and August at public clinics, following the age sequencing laid out for the second dose program. The rate at which youth go to second-dose clinics over the summer will determine if a school immunization program will be needed in the fall.
Only one new COVID-19 outbreak was declared in Moose Jaw this week, according to the list of active outbreaks from the health authority.
Chillers Pub & Grill declared an outbreak on May 15, joining ten other public businesses and schools still on the active list.
Moose Jaw Families For Change declared an outbreak on May 6, South Hill Fine Foods and Chez Nous senior care home on May 2, Moose Jaw SARCAN on April 27, the administrative sector of Rockport Carrier on April 21, Simpson Seeds on April 20, and the locomotive shop at Moose Jaw CP Rail on April 13.
Central Collegiate high school and St. Michael's Elementary School also remain on the outbreak list, declared on May 2 and on April 28, respectively. Central moved its entire student body to online learning last week as a response to the active cases.
Saskatchewan began its second dose vaccine plan on May 17, later sharing details about its rollout plan expected to conclude in July.
As of May 24, any resident aged 80 or older or who received their first dose vaccine on or before March 1 is eligible to receive their second dose of vaccine.
Cancer patients, organ transplant recipients and individuals with high clinical priority are also included in the current eligibility group and will receive a letter from the health authority.
Second doses are available at any of the SHA’s vaccine clinics, including booked appointments, walk-in and drive-through sites, and at participating pharmacies.
At this time, public health is planning to offer second dose shots to match the brand of the first dose received, meaning residents will need to know the brand of their first vaccine when booking appointments or attending clinics.
The rollout will follow the same age sequencing pattern as the first dose campaign, with residents becoming eligible on a weekly rotation based on their age or date of first vaccination.
The final change in eligibility for second doses is tentatively scheduled for July 26, for residents who received their first dose on or before June 28.
Care home residents will be able to welcome more visitors beginning on May 30, as visitation limits will expand as part of the first step of the province’s reopening plan.
All residents in long-term care or personal care homes will be able to welcome an unlimited number of visitors, two at a time for indoor visits and four at a time for outdoor visits.
Other public health guidelines will still be in place for visitors, including mandatory masking, physical distancing, hand hygiene and temperature screening.
Restrictions will lift further as the next two steps of the re-opening plan commence, said officials, with the final step expected to begin in mid-July.
