Moe shoots down Duclos’ idea of mandatory COVID shots

Premier Scott Moe pushed back Friday against the federal health minister’s suggestion of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.

In a statement, Moe said the provincial government will not be implementing the strategy, which was floated earlier in the day by Jean-Yves Duclos during a media conference held by the federal government.

“While we strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated to protect yourself and others from serious illness, in Saskatchewan this is a personal choice, not one imposed on you by the government,” Moe said in the provincial government’s release.

As of Friday, more than 1.81 million doses of COVID vaccines had been administered in Saskatchewan, including more than 864,000 second shots.

During a media conference earlier in the day, Duclos told reporters he personally thinks mandatory COVID vaccinations are going to be required at some point in Canada.

He said his stance was based on what the country is seeing in terms of case counts internationally and domestically as well as conversations he has had with provincial health ministers.

“What we see now is that our health-care system in Canada is fragile, our people are tired and the only way that we know to go through COVID-19 — this (Omicron) variant and any future variant — is through vaccination,” Duclos said.

He also suggested more has to be done in some jurisdictions to limit the spread of the Omicron variant.

A few provinces have instituted significant public health measures such as gathering limits, restrictions on indoor dining at bars and restaurants, and curfews. Other jurisdictions — including Saskatchewan — have yet to go that far.

“(This is) a kind warning but a clear warning to some provinces and territories that they need to act now,” Duclos said, “because if they don’t act sufficiently, it’s going to be difficult for the federal government to help after because we don’t have the capacity to do so.”

The Moe government said Friday that while it has yet to implement more stringent public health measures, it hadn’t ruled out that possibility.

Later in the day, Saskatchewan announced there were 1,170 new COVID cases in the province, breaking the record of 913 that was set one day earlier.

The Saskatchewan government has said it will be paying more attention to hospitalizations than case numbers as it plans its strategy going forward. On Friday, the Ministry of Health reported there were 105 people with COVID in Saskatchewan hospitals, an increase of five from Thursday’s update — and an increase of 26 since Dec. 31.

— With files from The Canadian Press