COVID boosters coming for those 65+, rapid tests to be distributed next week

A third COVID-19 shot in the arm will soon be available for those 65 and older in Saskatchewan, according to chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.

During a news conference Friday, Shahab explained that while there are “virtually no hospitalizations” for those under the age of 65 who get the virus and are fully vaccinated, it’s a different story for senior citizens and those who are immunocompromised.

“We are looking closely at the breakthrough data. There’s increasing hospitalizations in those 70 and older and 65 and older when they’re more than six months out from their vaccine, especially if they are immunocompromised,” he explained.

So now the province is making plans to have those populations offered a third COVID vaccine dose.

“We are going to be proposing additional booster doses for persons 65 and older in the coming days and weeks,” Shahab said. “We are just doing some consultations with providers and looking closely at the data and risk factors.

“So we are certainly looking at announcing booster doses for people potentially 65 and older once they’re six months out from their second dose.”

It’s in line with what the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) will be recommending in the next couple of weeks, Shahab added.

Those who are over the age of 80, residents of long-term care homes and those with certain medical conditions have already had access to booster shots since early September. According to the provincial government’s COVID dashboard, more than 45,000 third and fourth doses already have been administered.

In the meantime, Shahab has two messages:

“Please get your booster as soon as you are eligible and be safe when you’re out and about … even if you’re fully vaccinated,” he cautioned.

At-home rapid test distribution

The provincial Ministry of Health announced Friday that 2.6 million at-home rapid antigen COVID test kits will be available to the general public in select locations beginning Monday.

As previously reported, the tests will come in packages of five and will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

More than 1.3 million kits will be handed out free at participating fire halls, local chambers of commerce and Saskatchewan Health Authority testing and assessment centres. Schools will also get another 720,000 tests.

About 360,000 tests will go to First Nations communities across the province. The rest will go to the SHA for use in long-term and personal care homes, for health-care workers and for some businesses.

The province cautions the tests are not substitutes for vaccinations and will not be accepted for negative test requirements as part of the proof of vaccination or negative testing policy.

Marlo Pritchard, the president of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, said during the media conference that the province has asked the federal government for four million rapid tests for November and another four million for December.

Out-of-province transfers

Pritchard confirmed the province has reached out to Manitoba about possibly accepting ICU patients from Saskatchewan, if it’s necessary.

“We are focused on ensuring that we are utilizing every provincial resource possible to care for people in Saskatchewan before patients are transferred anywhere,” Pritchard said. “This process is about pre-planning and ensuring that a seamless contingency plan is in place in case of a need for out-of-province transfer. But to date, that has not been needed.”

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre also has contacted other jurisdictions to see if specialized medical personnel could be available to support Saskatchewan ICUs.

“To date, about half have indicated that they are unable to deploy resources to Saskatchewan, but we will continue to monitor that over the weekend and into next week,” Pritchard said.

There were 78 COVID patients in Saskatchewan hospitals as of Friday.