The provincial government and the Chief Medical Health Officer are thinking about delaying the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines to make sure everyone receives their first dose by the end of June.
Dr. Saqib Shahab says information from the United Kingdom suggests the first dose is effective for up to four months.
The Chief Medical Health Officer is also having conversations with other provinces who are thinking about doing the same, like B.C. and Ontario and with the federal government.
He expects recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization will support delaying the second dose, which would accelerate the timeline for first doses for everyone.
Saskatchewan’s Premier says the province is also looking at whether to ease the current public health orders which came into effect in mid-December.
Scott Moe expects the final decision will be announced early next week.
The deadline for the last set of orders is March 19th.
Dr. Shahab wants to make sure first that case numbers and hositalizations remain stable.
Premier Moe adds that having all of Saskatchewan’s long-term care home residents vaccinated, who were able to be vaccinated, a significant milestone in this almost year-long pandemic to date.
He says 91 per cent chose to receive their first shot.
The other 9 per cent either weren’t able to for health reasons or chose not to.
Moe cites that 53 per cent of the long-term care homes have received their second doses.
In personal care homes, 90 per cent have received their first doses and 43 per cent have received both.
Since the pandemic began, there have been over 40 outbreaks at long-term and personal care homes in Saskatchewan with over 100 deaths.(CKRM/CJWW)
















