Saskatchewan's COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan is built on the foundation of age as the main risk factor.
Phase 1 is focused on vaccinating high-risk populations, people of advanced age, and health care workers that have been identified as a priority.
Phase 2 is focused on vaccinating the general population by age, as well as the clinically extremely vulnerable and people in emergency shelters and group homes.
Focusing on age as a primary risk factor will enable Saskatchewan residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in a more efficient and timely manner.
Moving between phases
The timeline for Saskatchewan's COVID-19 Vaccination Delivery Strategy is dependent on vaccine supply and availability. The federal government is working to obtain as much vaccine as possible to distribute to provinces and territories.
It's important to understand the timeline for each phase may change due to vaccine availability.
You will not miss your chance to get the vaccine when a new phase starts. Once you become eligible, you are always eligible. If you are in Phase 1, you can still get the vaccine in Phase 2.
Pilot
Timeline: December 2020
- Saskatchewan conducted a pilot of the shipping, delivery and storage of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer ultra-frozen vaccine.
- 1,950 health care workers were vaccinated at Regina General Hospital.
- First recipients of vaccine were health care workers in ICUs, Emergency Departments and COVID Units at Regina General and Pasqua Hospitals and testing and assessment centres.
- Pilot recipients received their second dose 21 days following the administration of the first dose (during Phase 1).
- Pilot project to better understand the handling and storage requirements of the Pfizer vaccine.
Phase 1 – Current Phase
Timeline: December 2020 - March 2021
Targeted Immunization
- Phase 1 began on December 22, 2020, and is tailored to a Pfizer delivery schedule of 10,725 doses per week. (2 doses per individual)
- Allocations of Moderna are now being received and allocated to communities in the Far North. Further distribution is to be determined, based on supplies.
- Estimated total of 202,052 doses from both vaccines in the first quarter of 2021 is anticipated. (2 doses per individual)
- Immunization targeted to priority populations, including long-term care residents, health care workers and vulnerable populations.
- Allocation information is expected to be regularly updated by Public Health Agency of Canada.
Prioritization Framework
- The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has issued guidance to provinces on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer has reviewed NACI guidelines and modified them for Saskatchewan's demographics and logistical requirements.
Saskatchewan's framework:
- Long-term care and personal care home residents and staff.
Total number estimate – 30,584
- Health care workers in emergency departments, intensive care units, COVID-19 wards and COVID testing and assessment staff, respiratory therapists; code blue and trauma teams; and EMS, road and air transport teams.
Total number estimate – 10,000-15,000
- Residents 70 years and older in all communities
Total number estimate – 131,119
- Residents over the age of 50 living in remote/Northern Saskatchewan.
Total number estimate – 8,921
- Additional health care workers included in priority sequencing for Phase 1 as announced February 16, 2021. These additional workers include:
- Individuals directly involved in delivering COVID-19 immunizations in Phase 2 including physicians (up to 2,600), pharmacists (up to 1,200) and other SHA health care providers involved in delivering COVID-19 immunizations;
- Anesthesia/operating rooms;
- All other critical care areas;
- Hemodialysis;
- Vaccination teams;
- Radiology technicians;
- ECG/echo;
- Phlebotomy/lab workers handling COVID-19 specimens; and
- Home care (direct care providers).
Total number estimate – 11,500
Phase 2
Timeline: April 2021 – Fall 2021
Widespread Access
- Phase 2 is anticipated to begin in April-June 2021 (depending on available vaccine supplies)
- Focused on vaccinating the general population in 10-year increments:
| Age Group |
Estimated Population |
Schedule |
| 60-69 |
138,471 |
TBD based on availability of COVID-19 vaccine |
| 50-59 |
147,469 |
TBD based on availability of COVID-19 vaccine
|
| 40-49 |
151,901 |
TBD based on availability of COVID-19 vaccine
|
| 30-39 |
183,292 |
TBD based on availability of COVID-19 vaccine
|
| 18-29 |
190,043 |
TBD based on availability of COVID-19 vaccine
|
Targeted vaccinations to select congregate living:
- Group homes for persons with intellectual disabilities
- Emergency shelters
People with underlying health conditions that are clinically extremely vulnerable:
- Solid organ transplant recipients.
- People with specific cancers:
- People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy.
- People with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy.
- People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment.
- People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer.
- People having other targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors.
- People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs.
- 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 severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell disease).
- People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection (biologic modifiers, high dose steroids, AZT, cyclophosphamide).
- People who had their spleen removed.
- Adults with very significant developmental disabilities that increase risk.
- Adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5).
- Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
- Significant neuromuscular conditions requiring respiratory support.
- Projected finished: Fall 2021 (depending on available vaccine supplies)
Why Focus on Age?
- Age is the number one risk factor for severe outcomes, hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19.
- People of advanced age are more likely to be clinically extremely vulnerable or living with other chronic conditions.