The provincial government and the Saskatchewan Health Authority are not waiting for Health Canada’s approval of a Pfizer vaccine specially formulated for children between 5 and 11 years old. The Saskatchewan Health Authority’s physician co-lead on the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Tania Diener , says although it’s true that children are less likely to have serious illness from COVID-19, they can still end up in the hospital, leading to deaths in some children with other underlying conditions.

Diener adds that an indirect benefit for more children getting vaccinated is that unimmunized people can act as a reservoir, spreading the disease in the community, so the more people who are vaccinated, the less community transmission. The vaccine for younger children is a different formulation which can be kept in the fridge longer and it’s a slightly smaller dose.

Sheila Anderson, the SHA’s Vaccine Chief responsible for the COVID-19 immunization campaign, says there will be more than 190 clinics in over 100 communities, and many will be in th  same locations as previous clinics. The SHA is also working on setting up clinics in libraries, learning centres and community centres. There will be both appointment and walk-in clinics, and plans are in the works for family vaccinations through school divisions either during or after school hours.