(Lisa Schick/980 CJME file photo)

By CKOM News

Second shot strategy: Sask. aims to have all people fully vaccinated by early August

May 18, 2021 | 3:37 PM

Saskatchewan is hoping to have as many people as possible fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by early August.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health put out a tentative schedule for eligibility for second doses. The last group would become eligible July 26.

The government stressed timelines could change because of vaccine availability. It also noted: “AstraZeneca is not included in this table as we await advice on the use of AstraZeneca for timing of second doses.”

Those 85 and over and those who received their first doses before Feb. 15 currently are eligible to get their second shots. People who have been diagnosed with or are being treated for cancer and those who have received solid organ transplants will receive a letter of eligibility that will give them priority access to a second dose.

After that, eligibility for second doses will be based on age or the date of a person’s first dose.

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According to the government, the rest of the schedule is:

• May 24: Age of eligibility is 80 or first dose was received on or before March 1;
• May 31: Age of eligibility is 70 or first dose was received on or before March 15;
• June 7: Age of eligibility is 65 or first dose was received on or before March 22;
• June 14: Age of eligibility is 55 or first dose was received on or before April 7;
• June 21: Age of eligibility is 45 or first dose was received on or before April 15;
• June 28: First dose was received on or before May 1;
• July 5: First dose was received on or before May 15;
• July 12: First dose was received on or before May 30;
• July 19: First dose was received on or before June 14; and,
• July 26: First dose was received on or before June 28.

As of Tuesday, 49,008 people have received both of their doses and are considered fully vaccinated.

Second doses will be available at participating pharmacies around the province or at Saskatchewan Health Authority drive-thru and walk-in clinics. They’ll also be given at clinics operated by Indigenous Services Canada and the Northern Inter-tribal Health Authority (NITHA).

Appointments also can be booked online or by calling 1-833-727-5829.

The clinic or pharmacy will make sure people are eligible based on their age and the timing of their first dose. Those giving the shots also will make sure the individual is getting the same vaccine brand as they did in their first dose.

There are still questions about giving a different vaccine to those who received AstraZeneca the first time around.

“At this time, public health is planning to offer your second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to match the brand of your first dose,” the ministry said in a release. “National reviews of the safety and efficacy of interchanging the second dose brand are ongoing and the provincial policy on maintaining the same brand for the second dose may be updated following this review.”

On Monday, Health Minister Paul Merriman told Gormley that 72,000 people received AstraZeneca as their first dose.

The province is expecting to get 20,000 doses of that vaccine this week, but it’s unknown what will happen for the other 52,000 people who received AstraZeneca as their first dose.