Saskatchewan COVID-19 vaccine age dropped to 37 on Tuesday

The Saskatchewan Health Authority decreased the age eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations twice this past week and to as low as 37 as of Tuesday.

Both the online saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine booking system, along with the telephone booking system 1-833-SASKVAX (1-833-727-5829) which is operational between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., were booking for 37 year olds starting on May 4.

The province was able to lower the age down to 40 by the end of last week as a result of the expected shipment of 18,800 doses of Moderna vaccine and 31,590 doses of Pfizer vaccine.

Premier Scott Moe spoke on the importance of a high immunization rate to combat COVID during a COVID-19 media update on April 27.

“In the weeks ahead we will have our vaccination program eligibility opened up to everyone in the province. And we would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to get vaccinated. We have made every effort to make it as convenient as possible for you to do so. And by doing so it will lower our fatalities, it’s going to lower our hospitalizations, and it’s going to allow us to have a very positive conversation on where and how this province is going to exit COVID.”

Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab spoke about vaccination totals becoming a key metric in finding a way out of the pandemic.

“I would challenge all of us to go for a higher vaccination rate, because that is absolutely essential. Vaccines are safe and effective. And they will have to be a key tool for us to come out (of the pandemic),” Dr. Shahab said.

“If we look at the 70 per cent vaccination rate for example. If the 30 per cent who choose to be unvaccinated are also those who are working outside the home, more social, we will continue to see high rates of transmission. We have to understand why transmission is happening. Why people are choosing not to get vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy as individuals.”

“Vaccines are not mandatory but they are essential. And unless we have a high vaccine uptake, that will be a key new metric.”

Last Tuesday’s media update also shared a concern over the growing impact of variants of concern to individuals across Saskatchewan. As of May 3, there have now been 2,491 cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant detected in the province, with 1,662 of those cases in Regina and 59 in the South West. However, along Saskatchewan’s western border there are a higher number of the P.1 Brazilian variant than the rest of the province, with the North West having 11, the South West has eight cases, with South Central recording two and Saskatoon reporting one.

For more COVID-19 data visit swbooster.com.