Saskatchewan reported Tuesday its lowest single-day total of COVID-19 vaccinations since injections started in March.
The Ministry of Health said 294 doses of COVID vaccine were administered, including 161 second shots. The previous daily low was 452 on Aug. 24.
To date, 1,490,413 COVID shots have been given in the province, and 702,756 people have received two doses and are considered fully vaccinated.
In its weekly update, the provincial government said Moderna had been approved for residents between the ages of 12 and 17. Previously, only Pfizer’s vaccine had been approved for that age group.
The province also said certain vulnerable populations became eligible Tuesday to receive a third dose of an mRNA vaccine “booster.” That includes residents of long-term care and personal care homes, transplant recipients, recipients receiving treatment for malignant, hematologic disorders and recipients of an anti-CD20 immunosuppressive drug.
A look at the numbers
The seven-day average of new cases in Saskatchewan climbed to an all-time high Tuesday.
There were 305 new cases announced, which hiked the seven-day average to 350. The previous high of 346 was set Monday.
The ministry also reported 372 recoveries, the most since 839 were reported Jan. 26.
The active caseload dropped to 3,184.
There are 154 COVID patients in Saskatchewan hospitals, including 29 in intensive care. That’s the most hospitalizations since there were 161 on May 13.
A Regina resident has died due to the virus, increasing the province’s total to date to 613.
The new cases were reported in the Saskatoon (84), north-central (39), far northeast (37), northwest (35), northeast (18), Regina (16), central-east (10), far northwest (nine), southeast (nine), central-west (five), southwest (five), south-central (three) and far north-central (two) zones.
The hometowns of 33 cases are still being determined.
Of the new cases, 250 were unvaccinated and 40 were fully vaccinated.
To date, 56,838 cases have been reported in Saskatchewan. The Saskatoon area has had the most cases (13,722), with the north (13,086), Regina (12,590), far north (6,964), south (6,508) and central (3,667) regions next in line. The hometowns of 301 cases are pending.
August update
Last month, 3,840 of the 4,596 cases reported in the province were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people. There also were 756 cases among people who were fully vaccinated.
Of the nearly 4,600 cases in August, 793 were aged 11 or under.
There were 189 people hospitalized with COVID in the month, 150 of whom weren’t vaccinated or who tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination.
There were 10 people aged 19 or under and six aged 12 and under who were hospitalized due to COVID in the month.
Of the 41 Saskatchewan people admitted to intensive care in the month, 33 were unvaccinated or had just received their first dose. One person under 12 was admitted to ICU.
There were 22 deaths reported during the month, and 12 of those people weren’t vaccinated.
SHA launches automated notification system
Starting Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Indigenous Services Canada, Northern InterTribal Health Authority and First Nations partners will start the first phase of a vaccine auto-notification system in northern Saskatchewan.
The SHA said in a media release residents aged 12 and over will get voice messages saying vaccines are available “so they can choose to become protected against exposure of COVID variants and protect themselves, their families and those around them.”
