The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced today that youth aged 12 years and older will be added to the provincial vaccination plan, to begin receiving their first vaccine doses soon.
The announcement comes following Health Canada’s approval for the use of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine in individuals aged 12 to 15, confirmed Health Minister Paul Merriman in a recent press conference.
Merriman said that public health is looking at providing vaccines through schools, similar to other immunization programs already in place, but that details are still being finalized — including the parental consent process and the eligibility framework.
“We have had programs that have run in the elementary schools over the years with vaccination, so we’re transferring that knowledge of public vaccination in the younger years to the older years,” said Merriman.
Further public announcements will share more information about the program as it’s confirmed.
An estimated 91,000 youth will fall within the eligible age group, and public health said it plans to provide all of these individuals with their first dose vaccines by the end of the school year in June.
Second doses for youth will then be available by clinic appointments or potentially during a second in-school vaccine program in September, projected Merriman.
Additionally, youth aged 12 to 15 who are identified to be clinically vulnerable are also now eligible immediately to receive a Pfizer vaccine and will receive a letter of confirmation needed to book a vaccine appointment.
Individuals in this priority group are asked to book their appointments by calling the Vaccine Call Centre, to ensure they are booked into a clinic that is offering Pfizer vaccines.
For more information on the vaccine plan, visit saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.
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