COVID-19 vaccine supply gaps expected to ease in Sask.
Saskatchewan is expecting a new shipment of updated COVID-19 vaccines next week, after a supply hiccup meant some couldn’t get their vaccine at the same time as their flu shot.
Sarah Kozusko, the store operator at Queen City Wellness Pharmacy, said clinics she’s been involved with have had a high turnout.
"We've had great turnout for all the vaccine clinics we've done, lineups across the board,” Kozusko said. “I think that people are interested in their vaccines this year. It’s nice that we've had a little bit of a break. I think people were getting some vaccine fatigue at the end of the last kind of round of them.”
Kozusko added a supply shortage has caused some complication, especially for people who want to get their flu shot and COVID shot at the same time.
“So if people come by and we only have the flu shot available and they wanted flu and COVID, they might just get their flu shot or they might decide not to get either one,” Kozusko said. “And then they may or may not come back to get their COVID shot, even though they intended on getting both vaccines.”
Queen City Wellness Pharmacy works with clients who are often higher-risk for respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu, but the issue and the sentiment is the same for many people hunting for vaccines.
They’re one of more than 400 pharmacies offering COVID and flu shots in the province, along with a series of walk-in clinics operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
“There's been a small shortage of COVID shots over the last couple of months, but we're getting a new shipment next week. So those who want those services can simply go to their pharmacy and pick them up there,” said Michael Fougere, the CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan. “I think the anticipated demand is greater than what the federal government thought.”
Pharmacists have played a major role in post-pandemic delivery of vaccines in Saskatchewan, Fougere estimating they’ve administered over a million COVID vaccine shots since 2021.
Health officials say other options exist if a supply gap is encountered.
“Sometimes the demand varies from place to place,” said Dr. Saqib Shahab, Chief Medical Health Officer for the province. “The supply is great, but sometimes the supply may be a bit tight in one place like a pharmacy. And you can get another pharmacy, or you can call your local public health clinic or vice versa.”
Public health officials monitoring numbers
The anticipated top-up in supply comes as the Ministry of Health releases its latest Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program (CRISP) report.
It shows Saskatchewan recorded 1,382 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases between Oct. 6 and Nov. 2, far outpacing influenza and RSV.
Shahab expects influenza and RSV to play a larger role once temperatures begin to fall.
“Right now it's COVID, but you know in a few weeks we'll start seeing influenza,” Shahab said. “I would really encourage people who do plan to get vaccinated to do so the next two to three weeks.”
Shahab noted the current round of COVID vaccines is more well-adapted to current strains, something that can make a difference – especially for patients at higher risk.
Lab confirmed cases skew towards the 20 to 64 and 65 plus age groups, who can be more susceptible to the effects of viruses like COVID.
Fougere said that’s a factor everyone should consider when making a decision on whether or not to get a flu shot or COVID vaccine.
“It's a public health issue. It's also taking care and protecting your family or your children. Your spouse, your friends. It's really a judgment call you've got to make,” Fougere said. “But at the same time, you want to make sure you're safe and you're healthy and your family's safe as well.”
“Now that we are out of the pandemic, it's really up to each individual to decide if getting vaccinated every fall is right for them,” Shahab said. “The vaccine is available for everyone six months and older. Both the influenza and the COVID vaccine is really important for people who are at high risk of hospitalization.”
During the CRISP reporting period, Saskatchewan recorded 376 hospital admissions and nine deaths due to COVID.
The SHA said additional clinics are being made available in Regina, with evening and weekend availability along with the existing clinic times around the province.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Calls for Ottawa to end Canada Post strike mount as businesses face challenges
As the Canada Post strike nears its three-week mark, stores across the country have turned to alternate measures to send products to paying customers and keep operations running smoothly.
Trump making 'joke' about Canada becoming 51st state is 'reassuring': Ambassador Hillman
Canada's ambassador to the U.S. insists it's a good sign U.S. president-elect Donald Trump feels 'comfortable' joking with Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mexico president says Canada has a 'very serious' fentanyl problem
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues.
Search extends into the night for Pennsylvania woman who may have fallen into sinkhole
A grandmother looking for her lost cat apparently fell into a sinkhole that had recently opened above an abandoned western Pennsylvania coal mine and rescuers worked late into the night Tuesday to try and find her.
From niche grocer to supermarket giant: How T&T plans to repeat success in the U.S.
Canada's biggest Asian grocery chain is expanding into the U.S., hoping to bring its patented array of food, skin care and more to a new market.
South Korea's opposition parties submit a motion to impeach President Yoon over sudden martial law
South Korea's opposition parties Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the shocking and short-lived martial law that drew heavily armed troops to encircle parliament before lawmakers climbed walls to re-enter the building and unanimously voted to lift his order.
Freeland says it was 'right choice' for her not to attend Mar-a-Lago dinner with Trump
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says it was 'the right choice' for her not to attend the surprise dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Friday night.
A list of mispronounced words provides a retrospective of 2024, from Kamala to Chappell
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and breakout pop star Chappell Roan were among the year's most talked-about people. Their names were also among the most mispronounced.
Quebec doctors who refuse to stay in public system for 5 years face $200K fine per day
Quebec's health minister has tabled a bill that would force new doctors trained in the province to spend the first five years of their careers working in Quebec's public health network.