Saskatchewan is preparing for Round 2 of its vaccination fight against COVID-19.
On Thursday, the provincial government revealed second doses of COVID vaccines will be administered to Saskatchewan residents on an age-based and prioritized schedule by mid-May even before everyone in the province has received their first doses.
The province also announced that youths aged 12 and older will become eligible to get vaccinated. That news comes one day after Health Canada approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for those between the ages of 12 and 15.
As well, children aged 12 to 15 who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine effective immediately. People aged 16 and 17 in that category have been eligible since April 14.
By Matthew Dekker
Second Dose Administration Starting in May
Saskatchewan’s vaccine delivery effort will soon begin administering second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the general population. As most residents over the age of 18 are anticipated to receive their first dose by the end of May, second doses will start to be offered to overlap with the completion of first doses.
As of May 17, anyone who is 85 and older or anyone who received their first dose before February 15 can book their second dose. It is anticipated that all Saskatchewan residents will be able to be fully vaccinated with two doses by July 31. Second dose administration will be distributed according to the age-based and priority sequencing of first doses.
Saskatchewan s vaccine delivery effort will soon begin administering second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the general population. As most residents over the age of 18 are anticipated to receive their first dose by the end of May, second doses will start to be offered to overlap with the completion of first doses. As of May 17, anyone who is 85 and older or anyone who received their first dose before February 15 can book their second dose. It is anticipated that all Saskatchewan residents will be able to be fully vaccinated with two doses by July 31. Second dose administration will be distributed according to the age-based and priority sequencing of first doses.
NITHA continuing work to get people vaccinated; while dealing with variants of concern
Work is continuing to get northern residents vaccinated against COVID-19.
Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka, medical health officer for the Northern Inter Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) said so far the vaccine roll out is going well.
Ndubuka explained some locations are having more success then others when it comes to getting people to accept vaccinations.
“Some communities have been able to increase uptake, some communities are still struggling with vaccine hesitancy or vaccine resistance as the case may be,” he said.
According to NITHA so far 27 per cent of northern residents who are eligible have got their first dose of the vaccine. As of last week over eight thousand doses of vaccine had been given out.
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