Appointments offered across more rural parts of the North Central region are now booked out. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Health Authority)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Making appointments

Saskatchewan launches COVID-19 vaccine appointment system, starting with 85+ category

Mar 10, 2021 | 5:10 PM

Now that the Government of Saskatchewan is phasing out its ‘don’t call us, we’ll call you’ setup, as they are now launching their online appointment system.

Starting at 8 a.m. on Thursday, those 85 years of age and older can make a vaccine appointment either online or over the phone.

Saskatchewan health minister Paul Merriman and Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone announced the new online appointment system during Wednesday’s press conference.

Merriman said the decision was made to start the appointment system with only the 85-plus age group to avoid system overloads that have happened in other provinces. Merriman referenced the situation in B.C. this week, when their government made 100,000 people eligible for their vaccine. Close to 2 million people tried to make an appointment and it crashed their system.

“That’s why we started it very slow, to make sure that everything is going to work and that we don’t overload the system,” Merriman said. “And then we start opening up days after that to other age categories.”

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Merriman also warned multiple times during the conference against those that are not eligible to not try and register for an appointment. That will only gum up the system and prevent those that are eligible from getting their vaccine, he said.

Although the government has been making appointments themselves for the 70-plus age category, Livingstone said that is going to be phased out. As of now, only those 85 years or older can use the online or phone appointment system—or have a friend or family member make an appointment on their behalf.

Those eligible can access the new booking system www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine.

The Vaccine Call Centre is also available for those that do not have a health card or that need more support. Those who wish to make their appointment can call 1-833-727-5829 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Merriman encouraged everybody that can use the website to do so to open up the phone lines for those that can only call in.

During the press conference, Merriman said everybody in Saskatchewan can expect to have their first vaccine by “early in June,” provided the supply of vaccine continues to be steady. Livingstone estimated for everybody in the province to have both their first and second doses “by the fall.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW