AstraZeneca shipment expected in Saskatchewan next week

Saskatchewan people who got a first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine could end up getting their second dose sooner than they thought.

Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman said Wednesday the federal government had indicated there could be a shipment of AstraZeneca doses arriving next week.

“We’re going to be looking at how we’re going to allocate that out. Obviously, it would be used for second doses, but how we’re going to do that and when we’re going to do that will depend if and when that shipment arrives,” said Merriman.

He explained around 72,000 people in Saskatchewan got AstraZeneca for their first dose.

“If it does come in, we’ll be contacting people immediately through PSAs (and) through the media to be able to make sure that they’re aware that they could come in and get their second dose of AstraZeneca,” said Merriman.

Merriman said there hadn’t been any confirmations of how many doses could be coming, but he said the province won’t be holding off on using the doses.

“If we get vaccines from the federal government, we will be using them,” said Merriman.

Earlier in the week, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer indicated that data from studies had shown using Pfizer for a second dose in those who had received AstraZeneca for their first shot was just as effective as using a second AstraZeneca.

Dr. Saqib Shahab said Pfizer doses will likely be utilized as second shots for those who’d first had AstraZeneca so they don’t go past the 16-week threshold.