Starting Wednesday, essential workers transporting goods between North Dakota and Saskatchewan can be vaccinated.

The province has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with truckers being able to get vaccinated at the rest area near Drayton from noon until 8 p.m Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with an additional vaccination site coming near the border crossing at North Portal to vaccinate not only truck drivers, but essential energy workers who regularly cross the border.

“Trade with the United States is essential for the Saskatchewan economy,” Premier Scott Moe said in a release. “These essential workers are crossing the border to ensure our residents and those in the United States have access to the goods and services they need to get through this pandemic. This extraordinary level of cooperation helps protect more Canadians at a time when vaccine availability in America exceeds that of Canada, and we thank Governor Burgum for working with our province to make this happen.”

“Protecting the health and safety of essential workers crossing our shared border with Saskatchewan, including truck drivers and energy workers, is vitally important for public health, our economy and the eventual safe reopening of the border,” North Dakota Governor DougBurgum said. “We are grateful to Premier Moe for his partnership on this initiative, which will ensure the safe delivery of goods and services across the border and strengthen the longstanding friendly relationship between North Dakota and our northern neighbours.”

The North Dakota Department of Health will provide the staff and infrastructure to administer vaccinations. There will be no cost for the vaccination program to either the State of North Dakota or the Province of Saskatchewan, as the United States government provides vaccine and reimburses the cost of administering vaccine.

Approximately 2,000 Saskatchewan residents will be eligible.

Manitoba and North Dakota came to a similar agreement last week.