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It won’t take long for doses to get out the door now that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by Health Canada.
Even though the approval of the Moderna vaccine was just handed down Wednesday morning, Saskatchewan has already confirmed it will get nearly 5,000 doses next week.
In a news release, the health minister says the Moderna vaccine is more easily moved, so it will allow more people in different locations to be vaccinated.
“This vaccine allows us to continue with our Phase 1 plans to target residents where they are living and working, whether in long term care and personal care homes, in northern and remote communities and in health care staff outside our major centres,” said Health Minister Paul Merriman in the release.
This is still part of the first phase of vaccinations, which focuses on healthcare workers and people in long term care. As of the end of Tuesday, just about 1,600 people had been vaccinated in Saskatchewan.
Like the existing Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna vaccine requires two doses, given 28 days apart. Becaus eit requires only normal refrigeration and not the “ultra-cold” temperature the Pfizer vaccine requires, it can be more easily distributed throughout the province.
The second phase isn’t expected to start until at least April.
