What you need to know about inoculation

First jabs to be given next week, but it will be months before process is done

Nearly 10 months since SASKATOON the first COVID-19 cases were identified in Saskatchewan, Canada has approved a vaccine.

Here's what you need to know about it, and about Saskatchewan's plan to start inoculating residents later this month.

Q Who made it?

A The only COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada so far was developed by the American company Pfizer and German biotechnology company Biontech.

Q Does it work, and is it safe?

A Trial results say it is 95 per cent effective against COVID-19, and that side effects — soreness, a headache — are generally very mild and temporary. The vaccine was created in record time, but went through all the normal protocols and review. It is administered in two doses, 21 days apart.

Q When will the first doses arrive in Saskatchewan?

A The province says it hopes to receive 1,950 doses of the Pfizer vaccine by Dec. 15. Those will go to health care staff working at Regina General Hospital, the delivery site, as part of a pilot program. After that, shipments of 10,725 doses per week are expected to start arriving later in December.

Q Who will get it first?

A After the pilot, Saskatchewan has outlined four priority groups for the first phase of its vaccine delivery plan in 2021.

Staff and residents in long■ term and personal care homes;

Health care workers in emer■ gency departments, ICUS, COVID-19 wards and COVID testing and assessment staff;

Residents aged 80 and older, ■ followed by other residents aged 70 and older as supplies allow;

Residents over the age of 50 ■ living in northern and remote parts of Saskatchewan.

The goal is to complete that phase in the first quarter of the year.

Q When will the general population have access?

A Phase 2 of the vaccine delivery plan will aim to inoculate everyone who wants a vaccine. It's slated to begin in April 2021. Other priority populations or changes to the plan may be outlined in the months to come.

Q I'm in a vulnerable group of people that is not listed. What about me?

A The province says that it's forming a committee to advise

on immunization logistics and strategy. It's possible this plan could be updated in the weeks to come and more details added as we get a better idea of how many doses of vaccine will be available, and when.

Q Do any challenges exist with delivering the Pfizer vaccine?

A The vaccine has to be stored at -70 C. That makes it tricky to deliver or administer remotely. Saskatchewan has one ultracold freezer on loan from the Public Health Agency of Canada and has ordered 25 more portable units.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has contacted laboratories about using their freezers, but CEO Scott Livingstone said use of other organizations' equipment would strictly be “plan B.”

Q What about other vaccines?

A More vaccines being approved could mean more doses, and thus an expedited timeline.

Most expect a vaccine developed by the American company Moderna to be approved soon. Canada expects to receive a combined six million doses from Pfizer and Moderna in the first quarter of 2021, and Saskatchewan plans to get 202,052 of those in the same time period.

Q Will I be forced to take a vaccine?

A No.

Q Where will the vaccine be available?

A The provincial government aims to offer it in communities wherever people work or live. This year's flu vaccination campaign, which relied on a series of small pop-up clinics, was described by many as a potential precursor to COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Q What does this mean for Christmas and the months beyond?

A Not much. No one in the province will have received their second dose by Christmas. Health officials, including Health Minister Paul Merriman, have cautioned we will need to keep social distancing for many more months until enough people are immunized.

Q Do I still need to wear a mask and socially distance now that vaccines are coming?

A Yes. Right now, less than 10 per cent of Saskatchewan's population can expect to receive the vaccine in the first quarter of 2021.

Q If you get a vaccine, do you still have to follow public health guidelines?

A While trial results suggest Pfizer's vaccine is very good at preventing people from getting sick with COVID-19, we do not yet know if they could still pass the virus to other people. Chances are that being vaccinated won't exempt you from following public health rules.

Q When will we be able to relax public health guidelines?

A Right now no one is sure, but it likely won't be for many more months, so that the health system and producers have time to create and administer enough vaccines to enough people.