The provincial health system has the resources to deliver COVID-19 vaccines safely and effectively, according to Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.
At a video news conference in Regina December 9, Moe said the vaccination delivery campaign is slated to begin December 15 with a pilot program that includes enough vaccine for 1,950 people, including health care workers in ICUs, Emergency Departments and Covid Units at two Regina hospitals. Staff at COVID-19 testing and assessment centres are also included in the pilot project.
Moe said the pilot program will utilize a vaccine manufactured by Pfizer which received Health Canada approval on December 9.
Another vaccine, manufactured by Moderna, is expected to receive Health Canada approval in the near future. It will also be part of the provincial vaccination program, with the first doses anticipated to arrive in Saskatchewan in late December.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are administered in two parts: an initial dose followed a few weeks later by a second dose. Both vaccines must be stored and transported in freezers capable of extremely cold temperatures.
Moe said the provincial health care system will be able to deliver vaccines to people across the province in stages.
The first phase of the vaccine delivery plan’s focuses on immunizing priority populations who are at a higher risk of exposure to the virus or more at risk of serious illness – health care workers, elderly residents in care homes, seniors over 80 and residents in northern remote communities.
Phase 1 is anticipated to commence in late 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. Allocations are subject to fluctuate and may affect sequencing plans.
The second phase of the vaccine delivery plan 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.
Moe said while the vaccines are safe and effective, it will still take many more months before public health restrictions aimed at mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus can be relaxed.
“The vaccines are the finish line in the long fight against the COVID-19 virus,” said Moe. “This is how life will get back to normal.”
But, he added, the finish line is still some distance off.
“We all need to get vaccinated to keep ourselves and others safe,” said Moe. “Even if you’re not worried about contracting the disease yourself, get vaccinated for the sake of your parents, your grandparents, our health care workers, teachers and students. This is how we will protect those around us.”
Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman said December 9 that while delivering vaccines to everyone in Saskatchewan is a “massive undertaking,” he’s confident it will be done as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“Saskatchewan has a very strong record of immunization in terms of wide-scale delivery of vaccines and uptake of people,” said Merriman. “Every year we have a robust immunization program for influenza, and Saskatchewan has one of the largest rates of update in the country for flu vaccine.”
Merriman said the scale and complexity of the COVID-19 vaccination program is much larger than past initiatives, the foundation is already in place.
“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” said Merriman. We’ve done this kind of thing before and our government is prepared to dedicate all necessary financial and human resources to this massive effort.
“In terms of logistics, whatever is needed to deliver the vaccine swiftly and safely and efficiently as possible, I’m confident our health care system has a strong plan in place to do just exactly that.
“When the vaccine is ready, we will be ready to deliver it.”
Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said once mass immunzations have occurred, residents will be able to get closer to their normal routines,
“But in the meantime,” said Shahab, “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, sequenced distribution across the province, public communication of vaccine availability, contingency planning and statistical reporting of vaccines administered.
Also included in the vaccine delivery plan is information regarding a significant public relations campaign to ensure accurate and timely information is provided to the people of Saskatchewan.