More details are set to be announced Thursday in Saskatchewan regarding the provincial government’s plan for second doses and vaccinating teenagers.
Premier Scott Moe hinted at the news on Wednesday following question period after news of Health Canada approved the Pfizer vaccine for youth ages 12 to 15. With that particular vaccine now approved for people 12 and up, Premier Moe said the province will be shifting its vaccine rollout strategy.
“I think Saskatchewan people can expect we will be heading in the direction of moving the age of Pfizer vaccinations down to 12 years of age,” announced Moe. “Obviously that will take some parental consent, like every other vaccination, but we will be moving in that direction and we will be giving more details on how that will occur Thursday.”
NDP Leader Ryan Meili calls this exciting news as variants are being spread in schools. He believes the government should go back to the health authority expert panel for guidance when determining where youth fit in the updated rollout.
Questions around recovery plan
Meili said on Wednesday the government’s Re-Opening Roadmap cannot have vaccines as the only metric to get the province out of the pandemic.
While he did say here are many good components in the strategy, he thinks the government needs to observe the metrics that reflect the province’s health.
“What’s happening in our hospitals, what’s happening with variants caseloads. We need to keep our eye on the ball and not just count on vaccines alone,” Meili suggested. “We need to have a full plan.”
Moe said they will be following hospitalizations and variant cases closely as the plan moves forward. He told reporters the full expectation is to get stronger results with respect to preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes with their recovery plan.
“That’s what we have seen in real life situations occur in other countries and that’s fully what we expect to happen in Saskatchewan,” stated Moe. “It’s why we have been focused on providing vaccines as quickly as we can through the age groups to all Saskatchewan residents, and that will continue in the weeks ahead.”
