Vaccine Delivery Phases

Dose requirement

Note that if you have already received a third dose for travel or in long-term care or personal care home setting, you do not require a fourth, booster dose. The third dose already received provides the necessary increased protection; you do not need any further doses at this time.

Phase One

Effective September 7, 2021, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is providing COVID-19 booster shots in a phased approach, starting with the most clinically vulnerable.

Those eligible in phase one include residents of long-term care, special care and personal care homes; stem cell and organ transplant recipients; recipients in active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy) for malignant, hematologic disorders; recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (e.g. rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab).

Those eligible will receive a letter from the Ministry of Health or their physician with instructions on how to receive the booster. Eligible residents must present the letter before immunization will be administered.

Long-term care and personal care homes will be contacted directly by the Saskatchewan Health Authority to arrange for the boosters.

Phase Two

Starting October 4, phase two of the booster program begins. Eligible residents include:

• Residents 80 years and older, six months following their second dose.
• Other immunocompromised and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals as listed below. These populations can receive the booster a minimum of 28 days after their second dose. Those eligible will receive a letter from the Ministry of Health or their physician with instructions on how to receive the booster. Eligible residents must present the letter before immunization will be administered.

1. Individuals with primary or acquired immunodeficiency states:

• Including but not limited to poorly controlled HIV/AIDS (i.e a current CD4 count of <200 cells/μl for adults or children)
• primary or acquired cellular and combined immune deficiencies

2. Individuals on immunosuppressive or immunomodulating therapy at the time of vaccination including: 

• those who were receiving or had received in the previous 3 months targeted therapy and/or immune modulating therapy for autoimmune disease
• those who were receiving or had received in the previous 6 months immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy for any indication

3. Individuals with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease who were receiving or had received immunosuppressive therapy prior to vaccination (ex. methotrexate, azathioprine)

4. Individuals who had received high-dose steroids (equivalent to >40mg prednisolone per day for more than a week) for any reason in the month before vaccination.

Phase Three

Starting October 25, the COVID-19 booster program will be expanded. For all of these groups, COVID-19 boosters will be administered at least six months after the second dose was received. Your immunization record will be confirmed at the clinic location to ensure that it has been at least six months since your last COVID-19 vaccination.

• Individuals aged 65 years and older
• Individuals living in the Far North and those living on First Nation communities, aged 50 years and older
• Health care workers, who will be asked to present their Saskatchewan Health Authority staff identification, a copy of their license from their professional licensing body, or a workplace pay stub at the point of immunization.
• Individuals born in 2009 or earlier with underlying health conditions that are clinically extremely vulnerable including:
  • People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • People with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections, such as homozygous sickle cell disease
  • People who had their spleen removed
  • Adults with very significant developmental disabilities that increase risk, such as Down Syndrome
  • Adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5)
  • Significant neuromuscular conditions requiring respiratory support

Those with the above underlying medical conditions, the Ministry of Health will be providing a letter to your physician or nurse practitioner for presentation at the point of immunization.

It is recommended that your booster dose match your previous, two dose COVID-19 vaccinations. If you received two doses of a mRNA vaccine, your booster dose should be the same vaccine brand. If you received two doses of Astra Zeneca, it is recommended that you receive an mRNA vaccine booster immunization.

These eligible populations will be able to start booking their third doses online through the SHA Online Booking System, receiving the vaccine at clinics or through a pharmacy as of October 25.

On August 30, it was announced the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority will be working with public health sector representation to establish a policy that requires front-line health care workers to provide proof of vaccination in the workplace. If these care providers are not fully vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons, they will be required to undertake regular COVID-19 testing.

Effective October 1, 2021 a proof of vaccination or negative test policy will be implemented for all Government of Saskatchewan ministry, crown and agency employees. Employees of all Government of Saskatchewan ministries, crowns and agencies will be required to be fully vaccinated by October 1. Employees that do not provide proof of vaccination will be required to provide proof of a negative test result on a consistent basis.

Protocols regarding proof of negative test requirements are currently under development for those residents opting to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, and will include the provision of documentation demonstrating proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test provided by a certified healthcare provider, including private providers of COVID-19 tests.

The details on these workplace policies will be announced in September.

The Government of Saskatchewan is also encouraging other employers, including school divisions, to implement a similar proof of vaccination or negative-test policy for employees in the workplace.