Another shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has arrived and now it is Saskatoon’s turn. The Saskatchewan Health Authority says the plan is to administer some of its first health care worker vaccinations in Saskatoon starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday.  The first health care workers to be vaccinated include Respiratory Therapist Karen Schmid, Registered Nurse Kathy Pickerl and a well known physician who took to social media at the onset of COVID-19 in an effort to educate the public about the virus and information around how to deal with the pandemic.  Dr. Hassan Masri, an Intensive Care Specialist, is also slated for a COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday.

The first 1,950 vaccinations will be administered to health care workers in Saskatoon ICU’s, emergency departments, COVID units, testing and assessment centres. Vaccinations are expected to occur at Merlis Belcher Place at the University of Saskatchewan, with second doses predicated to take place three to four weeks later.

Regina health care workers received the first doses of the vaccine which were earmarked for the province.  Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO, Scott Livingstone had said previously that widespread vaccination access, or phase two, has been tentatively targeted for April 2021.