COVID-19 Immunization Update as of July 12

ALL RESIDENTS AGED 12 AND OLDER ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FIRST AND SECOND DOSE IMMUNIZATIONS.
There must be a minimum of 28 days between your first and second dose.

The SHA has over 60,000 booked appointments available for first and second dose immunizations – Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca – at clinics throughout the province. Booked appointment dates and times vary, please check the online booking site for an appointment close to you. AstraZeneca available at many clinics by request.

Finish the Fight & Get Fully Immunized
There were 102 residents hospitalized due to COVID-19 in June. 65% of those had not been immunized, 30% had their first dose, and only 5% had both doses and illness may have occurred within the two weeks required for the complete immune response to vaccination. The numbers are clear: vaccines protect us from COVID-19, and being fully immunized is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from serious illness and death.

Immunization remains your best defense against COVID-19. As much progress as we've made towards immunizing the province, we will continue to see COVID-19 transmission over the summer, particularly among unvaccinated populations. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) encourages all residents to be immunized with both doses as soon as you are eligible.

Continuing to get tested when experiencing even mild symptoms is also an important part of a multi-layered approach to personal protection against COVID-19 including choosing to wearing a mask, washing your hands often, staying home if you are unwell and getting immunized when it’s available to you.

Stick it to COVID by taking advantage of one of the many options available for immunization and testing: booked appointments, drive-thru and walk-in clinics, pop-up clinics, and participating pharmacies.

ONCE YOU BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR IMMUNIZATION, YOU ARE ALWAYS ELIGIBLE.
This applies to both first and second dose immunizations.

Residents are reminded to hold onto the card given to them at immunization, as it contains valuable information including the date, and the vaccine used.

For additional information on COVID-19 vaccines and immunization, visit saskatchewan.ca/COVID-19 vaccine.

Where to Get Immunized
Saskatchewan residents have multiple options for receiving first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine when eligible.
To be immunized, and for the most up-to-date information on available clinic locations and hours the following resources are available:

• Drop in to one of our mobile or pop-up clinics when we announce one in your community.
• See the full list of drive-thru and walk-in clinics and hours at www.saskatchewan.ca/drive-thru-vax.
• Book an appointment online 24/7 at saskatchewan.ca/COVID-19 vaccine.
• Call 1-833-SASKVAX (1-833-727-5829) to book your appointment, 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Visit your local pharmacy. For a list of participating pharmacies, including vaccine brands available, visit   www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-pharmacies.

Masking Requirement Remains in Place for SHA Facilities
Please note that as of July 11, there will be no changes to the masking, screening and family presence directives in SHA facilities with the exception of Long Term Care (LTC) homes. When you enter a facility, you will be expected to:

1. Wear a medical grade face mask for the duration of your stay in the facility. Facilities include all hospitals, vaccine clinics, out-patient clinics etc. Patients will continue to be able to remove their masks when they are in their own room. All staff in any SHA facility or performing any SHA service, like Home Care and including LTC homes, are still required to follow continuous masking protocols.
2. Answer the COVID-19 screening questions honestly and to the best of your ability.
3. Follow Level 1 Family Presence guidelines. This means that each patient can designate two essential family members/supports. These people can both visit the patient but only one person at a time. Additional family members/supports can be designated for intensive care, and palliative care. Two people can be present at one time for intensive care, palliative care, and maternal/children’s units. These will be reassessed frequently and will be adjusted as the COVID-19 risk changes.
4. Continue to be kind and respectful to everyone. Abusive language and actions will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the facility.

For SHA Long-Term Care Facilities:
Residents, family and visitors are not required to wear masks and have no limit on the number of visitors. However, visitors are encouraged to wear a mask while visiting, particularly if the resident or visitor is not fully vaccinated or physical distance cannot be maintained. Masks help to reduce COVID-19 transmission. LTC Homes are different than other SHA facilities because these are considered people’s homes.
The health and safety of staff, physicians, patients, residents, family and visitors is our number one priority. In order to maintain safety for everyone, the above protocols will remain in place for the time being and will be regularly reviewed.

Changing Vaccine Brands Between First & Second Doses
In response to updated statements by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Saskatchewan’s clinical experts have recommended that individuals in Saskatchewan who received AstraZeneca as their first dose be offered the choice of receiving AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna) as their second dose.

Where AstraZeneca is on hand, residents who had it as a first dose will be offered the choice of either AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine for their second dose. AstraZeneca remains a safe vaccine and two doses are effective against severe disease and hospitalization.

Individuals who have received two doses of any COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada should be considered protected and do not require an additional vaccine at this time.

mRNA Vaccines are Interchangeable
Residents who received Pfizer or Moderna as their first dose should take whichever of those two vaccines that is available to them for their second dose, rather than waiting for the same brand of vaccine. The Pfizer brand remains the only one approved for use in children ages 12-17.

A vaccine is only approved by Health Canada if it is safe, it works, it meets manufacturing standards, and the benefits outweigh any risks.

Vaccine Brand First Dose	Vaccine Brands Permitted for Second Dose
Pfizer	Pfizer or Moderna
Moderna	Moderna or Pfizer
AstraZeneca	AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna