Bookings for COVID vaccines set to open to 55+ age group in Saskatchewan

The eligibility for Saskatchewan’s vaccine booking system is set to change.

Starting Friday at 8 a.m., everyone 55 and over can book an appointment online or by phone. The eligibility had been at 58 and over.

Everyone 50 and over living in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, all remaining Phase 1 health-care workers, people in group homes and shelters, and people with underlying health conditions who are clinically extremely vulnerable also can book appointments by phone.

Drive-through and walk-up clinics for people 55 and over also continue to operate around the province. Those AstraZeneca clinics currently are operating in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Humboldt, Kindersley, Lloydminster, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Warman, Weyburn and Yorkton.

However, the drive-through at Regina’s Evraz Place is shifting gears.

Starting Friday, the drive-through will be administering doses of the Pfizer vaccine to people aged 53 and 54 only, with possible changes to the eligible age group as demand allows.

The clinic previously was giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone 55 and over.

The first-come, first-served clinic is to open at 8:30 a.m. and run until 11 p.m. daily.

“Shifting vaccines to expand eligible age groups for the Regina drive-through clinic will help in driving down variant of concern transmission in Regina and area,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said in a media release.

“Regular, predictable delivery of all vaccines allows us to make these adjustments and continue to lead the country in putting vaccines in arms, protecting more residents.”

Regina has been the hotspot for COVID cases in recent weeks, both the original strain and the United Kingdom variant.

“Rapid, mass vaccinations will mean there are different vaccines available at different times, in different parts of the province to support delivery plans,” said Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer. “All have been approved by Health Canada and all will prevent serious illness and death caused by COVID-19.”

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine be given only to people 55 and over due to the possibility of blood clotting.