Wait times between four and five hours for booster walk-in at Prairieland Park

Prairieland Park was a busy place Monday, as newly eligible individuals rolled up their sleeves for their COVID-19 booster shots.

The Saskatchewan government announced last week it would lower the age of eligibility Monday to those 18 years of age and over, providing three months had passed since their second shot.

Many people lined up in the early morning hours at Prairieland Park, braving the nearly -20 C conditions.

THIS is the lineup for #covidboosters this morning @PrairielandPark this morning. I’m about at the halfway mark. And it’s a -27 windchill right now. Half an hour til it opens up. @SKGov @CKOMNews @CJMENews #sk #yxe pic.twitter.com/81jyKMHgON

— Lara Fominoff (@LaraFominoff) December 20, 2021

Hours later, the line had shrunk. Unfortunately for those looking for the walk-in clinic, it didn’t mean wait times subsided through the day.

The wait times were between four and five hours for the better part of Monday, with both pre-booked vaccinations and walk-ins welcomed into the facility.

Joan Nash was one who pre-booked, saying she felt physically great after the shot.

“I also feel mentally like I’m safer. I feel really privileged to get one,” she told 650 CKOM.

“Anything I can do to help. It just makes me feel safer … to live in a country where I can get it, just to go get it.”

The pre-booking system held up Monday morning, with many in the province booking their times for upcoming vaccines.

According to the province, the first day of expanded eligibility for the boosters resulted in more than 18,000 appointments Monday alone.

With the threat of the Omicron variant spreading across Canada — and now Saskatchewan, which totalled 65 cases as of Monday’s COVID update — individuals like Edwin Smith know the importance.

“I’m having family come up from Calgary (for the Christmas season), so they’re staying with us. We have rapid tests lined up,” he explained.

“I won’t say (I’m) relieved (about getting the booster shot). But I did my part and I’m hoping that all the planning that everybody’s doing is going to help reduce spreading, now with Omicron.”

Kim and Hanna Sullivan went through the pre-booked lineup at Prairieland as well Monday. They described booking the vaccinations as “chaotic,” yet were glad to get their shots.

“We got through quickly,” Kim said, before her daughter chimed in.

“(The wait time) was about 20 minutes. It was a good experience,” Hanna added.

The Prairieland vaccine clinic will be open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Therapy dogs will also be on site Monday and Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m., and Tuesday from noon to 4 p.m.