Here are highlights from the latest COVID-19 provincial update held Tuesday afternoon on Microsoft Teams.
Health minister Paul Merriman said the vaccination program continues to make tremendous progress. Fifty-nine per cent of all Saskatchewan residents have gotten their first shot, he said.
Over the past few weeks it has moved close to the 70 per cent target to move to Step Two of the Reopening Roadmap. As of Tuesday, it was are at 68 percent.
“Uptake in our province has been fantastic,” said Merriman.
The two biggest days so far were on the weekend, and the drive-thrus were busy, mostly with young people.
The main highlight from the media conference was information about the plan for vaccinations in schools. Every student 12 and older will be given the opportunity to receive a Pfizer vaccine.
Beginning in early June, said Merriman, the Saskatchewan Health Authority 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 clinics will be coming to their schools.
Those over age 12 will not have to wait for the clinics to be set up; they can get their shots in pharmacies, at SHA drive thru or walk in clinics, or online.
As of Tuesday, everyone 16 and over is eligible to be vaccinated, and beginning Thursday, everyone 12 and over is eligible.
Emergency operations commander Derek Miller provided an update on the school delivery strategy. He said they are working right now with local reps from schools and school divisions directly on logistics. This includes important information like dates, times and locations, and aligned as much as possible with school schedules.
More information about the school delivery will be communicated through the school communications channels. All the school clinics will be run in the same safe manner consistent with Public Health orders, screening protocols and personal protective equipment.
Clinics will operate Monday through Friday during the school week. During the school campaign, which will last about three weeks, SHA will shift its focus to drive-thru and walk-in vaccinations, focusing on weekends.
Written consent will be required for ages 12-17. One consent will be sufficient for both doses. Parents are encouraged to discuss with their kids the importance of vaccination.
In terms of second doses for the schools, students must wait at least 21 days before receiving their second dose. Second doses can be expected to be provided to students in July and August. The SHA will be monitoring the overall uptake of second doses through the summer, to see if it will be needed in the fall to achieve a higher uptake.
Miller also provided some other eligibility timelines for when second doses are anticipated to be administered to the general population. Every week, from now to July 26, the plan is to roll down the age eligibility as well as make adjustments to the date of first doses.
The timeline calls for 85+ to be eligible starting May 17, 80+ starting May 24, 70+ starting May 31, 65+ starting June 7, 55+ starting June 14, 45+ starting June 21, and then from that point on adjust to running based solely on the date of the first dose.
This is a tentative guideline and is dependent on vaccine supply, but Miller said it provided a roadmap over the next two months. Also, this timeline does not include AstraZeneca at the moment, as they await guidance on timing of second doses.
