Second COVID booster shots now available to those 50 and over in Sask.

Saskatchewan has expanded the eligibility for people looking to get a second COVID-19 booster shot.

The Ministry of Health announced Tuesday that everyone 50 and over is now eligible for a fourth dose of a COVID vaccine, provided four months or more have elapsed since their third dose.

Previously, only those 70 and over, people 50 and up who live in First Nation communities or in the Northern Service Administration District, residents of long-term care, special care and personal care homes, and severely immunocompromised individuals could get a fourth dose.

Everyone in the province who is 12 and over is eligible to get their first booster shot four months after their second dose.

Vaccination appointments are available through the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Indigenous Services Canada, the Northern Inter-tribal Health Authority and at participating pharmacies throughout the province.

Appointments at SHA facilities can be booked here or by calling 1-833-727-5829.

As of April 16 — the date at which last week’s epidemiological report was complete — 51.7 per cent of Saskatchewan residents aged 18 and up had got at least one booster shot. The week before, that percentage stood at 51.5.

Between April 10 and April 16, there were 1,469 first booster doses administered in the province, roughly the same as the number (1,438) from the week before.

But the number of second boosters given in Saskatchewan rose from 557 in the week of April 3-9 to 8,077 over the following seven days. In total, there were 9,553 booster shots given April 10-16, up from 1,997 the week before.

The province expanded eligibility for second boosters on April 11 to those 70 and over and those 50 and up living in First Nations communities.