SHA increases number of COVID vaccination clinics

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is expanding the number of clinics where people can book COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

In a media release Tuesday, the SHA said bookings now can be made at clinics in Big River, Esterhazy, Estevan, Foam Lake, Humboldt, Kelliher, Lanigan, Lloydminster, Melville, Moose Jaw, Moosomin, Nipawin, Ponteix, Regina, Rosetown, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Tisdale, Turtleford, Wakaw, Weyburn and Yorkton.

“While we’ve made great progress in immunizing Saskatchewan, we have to keep evolving our strategies to meet the needs of the public,” Derek Miller, the commander of the SHA’s emergency operations centre, said in the release.

“Allowing more booked clinics provides flexibility for those residents that require it, while also continuing to offer pop-up walk-in clinics, booster doses for eligible populations and also continuing with our school immunization program for youth.”

Appointments can be booked here.

As well, participating pharmacies throughout the province are still administering doses. A map of participating pharmacies can be seen here.

Every Saskatchewan resident aged 12 and older — including a child who will be 12 by Dec. 31 — is eligible to get first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The province also is delivering booster doses to some high-risk individuals, and third and fourth doses to those who received a mixed series of an mRNA vaccine and a viral vector vaccine and who require two mRNA doses for international travel.

As of Monday, more than 1.5 million doses of COVID vaccines had been administered in the province and more than 730,000 people were considered fully vaccinated.

More than 80 per cent of eligible Saskatchewan residents have been immunized and more than 71 per cent have received two doses.

However, the numbers of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths have continued to rise as Saskatchewan grapples with a fourth wave of the pandemic.