The first COVID-19 vaccines in Saskatchewan will be administered at Regina hospitals. They will be given to health care workers providing direct care to COVID-19 patients there and at Pasqua Hospital, and will include staff at testing and assessment centres. Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, says vaccines for approximately 1,950 people are expected to arrive by December 15th in the initial pilot for delivery and storage. The recipients will receive their second dose 21 days after the first one.
Premier Scott Moe announced on Wednesday that Health Canada has now approved Pfizer’s vaccine.
Shahab says the Vaccine Delivery Plan’s first phase, is expected to begin toward the end of this month. It will target the rest of the province’s health care workers who provide direct care to those with the virus, long-term care and personal care home residents and staff, residents 80 and over and those over 50 in remote and northern communities. Then as availability allows, shots will be available for those 75 and over and then those 70 and over.
There are 202,052 doses expected in the first quarter of next year, which includes weekly deliveries of 10,625 doses of Pfizer vaccine. Weekly allocations of Moderna are being finalized.
The second phase of the plan is expected to begin in April with more widespread vaccine access. They will be available at mass immunization clinics, and by physicians, nurse practioners and pharmacists.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has agreements with Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithLine, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson, and Medicago. Pfizer vaccine must be transported and stored in an ultra-low temperature freezer, at -70 degrees. The Ministry of Health has procured and is awaiting delivery of 25 portable ultra-low freezers to assist with the shipment across the province. Modern’a vaccine needs to be stred at -20 degrees.
Dr. Shahab says as soon as Health Canada approves the vaccines, Saskatchewan will be ready to deliver. The shipments are dependent on manufacturer production rates or potential issues with manufacturing.
