That date will depend on how quickly vaccines can be distributed through Phase 1 of the plan, which focuses on high-risk populations.
“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.”
Here’s how things are shaping up, past and present.
The Vaccination Distribution Plan began with the Pfizer Pilot Project for healthcare workers back in mid-December. A total of 1,950 healthcare workers were immunized in Regina, with the goal of also understanding how to handle and store the Pfizer vaccine, which has to be kept in ultra-cold temperatures to remain stable.
Once that plan was in place and successful -- and the vaccine itself was found to be safe in initial doses — Phase 1 of the distribution plan was initiated.
High-risk populations are identified as long-term care and personal care home residents and staff, priority healthcare workers, residents 70-plus in remote northern communities and residents 50-plus in remote northern communities.
All told, Phase 1 covers 190,000 people in Saskatchewan, requiring 380,000 doses. As of Sunday, Feb. 7, a total of 42,987 vaccines had been administered, around 11 per cent of the total needed.
This is where vaccine scarcity comes into play.
The province expected to receive 124,800 doses of Pfizer and 66,500 doses of Moderna vaccine in the first quarter of 2021, but shortfalls of more than 12,600 of Pfizer and 500 Moderna are now expected. All told, continued delays will further push back the implementation of general population vaccines, but health officials remain optimistic supplies will increase as production ramps up.
Where clinics will be found once Phase 2 begins in earnest.That brings us to Phase 2.
The plan is to see priority given to age groups in 10-year increments, with that focus chosen due to COVID-19 being a greater risk in older populations.
All told, it is estimated 138,471 people will fall under the age 60-69 group; 147,469 in the 50-59 group; 151,901 in the 40-49 group; 183,292 in the 30-39 group and 190,043 in the 18-29 group. Each group will require two doses of their respective vaccines.
Phase 2 will also include targeted vaccinations for those in select congregate living settings:
- Group homes for persons with intellectual disabilities
- Emergency shelters
People with underlying health conditions that are clinically extremely vulnerable:
- Solid organ transplant recipients.
- People with specific cancers.
- People with severe respiratory conditions.
- People with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections.
- People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase the risk of infection.
- Adults with very significant developmental disabilities that increase risk.
- Adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease.
The plan also covered how vaccines will be distributed.
Three categories of clinics will be available: mass immunization clinics, mobile clinics and drive-thru clinics, with the size and location of each community determining how many and what kind of each will be set up.
Moose Jaw itself will receive mass immunization and drive-thru-clinics. The southern portion of the province -- drawing a line from Leader in the west to Rocanville in the east -- will receive a total of 53 clinics, including 28 mass immunization, three drive-thru and 22 mobile clinics. Regina alone will receive 15 clinics.
A sample of a vaccination card.Those vaccinated will receive a wallet card with a record of their vaccination, and their vaccination record will be stored electronically at MySaskHealthRecord.
Further details and regular updates to the Saskatchewan Immunization Delivery Plan will be available at www.Saskatchewan.ca/covid-19-vaccine.
