The Saskatchewan government has outlined its phased approach to delivering the COVID-19 vaccine to residents starting later this month.
The plan includes an initial pilot of the delivery and storage of the Pfizer vaccine, a first phase focused on targeted vaccination of priority populations, and widespread access to the vaccine in the second phase.
The pilot will see the vaccine administered at Regina General Hospital and delivered to health care workers providing direct care to COVID-19 patients. The first recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine will be health care workers in ICUs, Emergency Departments and Covid Units at Regina General and Pasqua Hospitals and staff at testing and assessment centres. Pilot recipients will receive their second dose 21 days following the administration of the first dose during phase 1.
Vaccines for approximately 1,950 people is expected to arrive by December 15. The pilot will see the vaccine administered at Regina General Hospital and delivered to health care workers providing direct care to COVID-19 patients. The first recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine will be health care workers in ICUs, Emergency Departments and COVID Units at Regina General and Pasqua Hospitals and staff at testing and assessment centres. Pilot recipients will receive their second dose 21 days following the administration of the first dose.
SHA CEO Scott Livingstone said on Wednesday that the third priority group will consist of senior citizen populations and residents of northern communities.
“It will include residents of 80 years of age and older in all communities across the province, then moving down in age with 75 to 79 year olds, 70 to 74 years old, then residents over the age of 50 living in remote and northern Saskatchewan,” explained Livingstone.
The first phase is anticipated to start later in December 2020 with 202,052 doses expected within the first quarter of 2021. This includes expected weekly allocations of 10,725 doses of Pfizer vaccine. Weekly allocations of Moderna are currently being finalized.
The second phase is anticipated to commence in April 2021 and will continue priority population immunization while providing widespread vaccine access to immunize the general population. Distribution in phase 2 will occur throughout the province at public health clinics and other vaccination delivery sites across the province.
Livingstone noted how the vaccines require some cold chain requirements, but he said the province will be ready to safely distribute the vaccines.
“There are freezers and equipment which have been ordered through a task group that has been in place for a number of weeks,” stated Livingstone. “We will receive an allotment from the Public Health Agency of Canada for seven regular freezers as well as one low temperature freezer.”
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health is also awaiting the delivery of 25 portable ultra-low temperature freezers and additional freezers to help with vaccine shipments around the province.
“Once mass immunization has occurred, we will all be able to get closer to our normal routines,” said Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab. “But in the meantime, everyone must continue following the basic advice – frequent hand-washing, physical distancing, masking and staying home if you have symptoms, and closely following public health orders.”
Plans are in progress around safe storage of vaccines, public communication of vaccine availability, contingency planning and statistical reporting of vaccines administered.
(With files from Moises Canales)
