The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Saskatchewan. Immunization of 1,950 health care workers is beginning today at Regina General Hospital at 6 p.m., as part of a pilot to test the delivery and storage processes for the Pfizer vaccine.
This is the first step of the government’s phased approach to delivering the COVID-19 vaccination to Saskatchewan people.
The first recipients of the vaccine through the pilot are health care workers in ICUs, Emergency Departments and Covid Units at Regina General and Pasqua Hospitals and staff at testing and assessment centres. The immunizations will take place over a number of days. Pilot recipients will receive their second dose 21 days following the administration of the first dose.
Phase 1 of the Vaccine Delivery Plan focuses on immunizing priority populations who are at a higher risk of exposure to the virus as well as those more at risk of serious illness, and will begin later this month. The Ministry of Health will work with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Athabasca Health Authority, and First Nations Jurisdictions to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to priority populations.
Officials are planning for the logistics of transporting, storing and distributing the vaccine as it becomes available. The second phase of the Vaccine Delivery Plan is anticipated to begin in April, 2021 and will continue priority population immunization while providing widespread vaccine access to immunize the general population.
Dr. Betcher reminded people not to become complacent because of the vaccine’s arrival, noting that it is critical to continue following public health orders and practicing the basics including, frequent hand-washing, physical distancing, masking and staying home if you have symptoms.
For more information on Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 vaccine planning, visit https://saskatchewan.ca/COVID19/vaccine.
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