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Saskatchewan’s soaring COVID-19 vaccination plan is shifting into a higher gear.
The province announced Tuesday that vaccination in schools will begin in June and also outlined a “tentative guideline” for booking and receiving second doses.
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Health Minister Paul Merriman said at an online news conference that under the second dose schedule, which is dependent on vaccine supply, everyone could be eligible for a second dose by the end of July.
REGINA A Regina family is still searching for answers nearly one year after their 10-year-old son died at Regina’s General Hospital. Michelle Klein and Derek Brack took their son, Jonathan, to the ER last July. Fourteen hours later, he died. The family still doesn’t know exactly what happened. “He walked in on his own and he was fine breathing-wise and his heart was functioning and his lungs were functioning and everything was well,” said Klein, Jonathan had a recurring bowel condition that sent him to the ER before. This time, the family feels treatment didn’t come until it was too late, contributing to the boy’s death.
The government does say these timelines could change due to vaccine availability and that AstraZeneca is not included as they are awaiting advice on the use of AstraZeneca for timing of second doses.
Much like first doses, second doses will be made available through SHA drive-thru and walk-in clinics, clinics operated by Indigenous Services Canada and the Northern Inter-tribal Health Authority and pharmacies across Saskatchewan.
You should prepare for your second dose by making sure you know the date of your first dose. That can be found on the vaccination card you were given when that first dose was given.
Saskatchewan is hoping to have as many people as possible fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by early August.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health put out a tentative schedule for eligibility for second doses. The last group would become eligible July 26.
The government stressed timelines could change because of vaccine availability. It also noted: “AstraZeneca is not included in this table as we await advice on the use of AstraZeneca for timing of second doses.”
Those 85 and over and those who received their first doses before Feb. 15 currently are eligible to get their second shots. People who have been diagnosed with or are being treated for cancer and those who have received solid organ transplants will receive a letter of eligibility that will give them priority access to a second dose.
Prince Albert Daily Herald
Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone. (Brandon Harder/Regina Leader-Post)
On Tuesday the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced it would begin delivering COVID-19 vaccines in elementary and high schools in early June. Health Minister Paul Merriman made the announcement during the province’s press conference on COVID-19 on Tuesday.
“The SHA will be setting up clinics in every school in Saskatchewan to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine, students and parents will be notified in advance when the vaccine clinic is coming to your school,” Merriman said.
“I should note that you don’t have to wait for the vaccine clinics to come to your school.”