With Health Canada’s approval of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19, Saskatchewan is anticipating 4,900 doses to arrive in the province the week of December 28.
“The approval of the Moderna vaccine means more high-risk Saskatchewan residents will be able to be immunized against COVID-19,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said. “This vaccine allows us to continue with our Phase 1 plans to target residents where they are living and working, whether in long term care and personal care homes, in northern and remote communities and in health care staff outside our major centres.”
The Moderna vaccine is approved for people 18 years and over. It requires two doses, 28 days apart. This vaccine requires refrigeration but at not the ultra-cold temperature required for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This will allow public health to distribute this vaccine to more locations throughout the province, as the vaccine becomes available.
Phase 1 of Saskatchewan’s 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. Moderna vaccinations will target long term care and personal care home residents and staff; front-line health care workers most at risk for COVID-19 exposure; residents 80 years and older; and all residents 50 years and older living in northern and remote communities, as supply allows.
To December 22, 2020, 1,597 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have been provided to health care workers in Regina as part of the initial pilot and Saskatoon as part of Phase 1.
Widespread vaccine access to begin immunization of the general population will be part of Phase 2 of the delivery plan, tentatively beginning in April 2021.
As the COVID-19 vaccine is targeting the most at-risk populations as supply allows, it is necessary for all residents to continue to abide by public health orders to reduce transmission. Wash your hands frequently; wear a mask in public places; maintain physical distancing; and stay home if you are experiencing even mild symptoms.
For information on Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Plan visit www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine.
