COVID vaccine clinics to open across Sask. this spring

Mass immunization clinics will be staged at nine locations in southwest Saskatchewan when health officials there begin distributing the coronavirus vaccine to the general population this spring.

Saskatchewan announced Tuesday its general rollout plan that describes two phases, including current work to vaccinate 190,000 persons in priority groups, health-care workers and all residents over the age of 70.

The second phase, beginning potentially in April, would include a drive-thru and general clinic in Swift Current.

Other clinic locations nearest to southeast Alberta are at Leader, Maple Creek, Gull Lake, Eastend, Shaunavon, Cabri, Frontier and Climax.

An online and telephone booking system will open in March to schedule appointments for the general public based on age in 10-year age blocks.

Appointments for otherwise healthy individuals would first be scheduled for those aged 60-69, followed by those in their fifties, and so on.

Targeted Phase 2 programs would focus on those with underlying health conditions or disabled people in group living settings.

The province had given 43,000 shots as of Feb. 7 toward 380,000 total shots needed for Phase 1 groups totalling 190,000 people.