Shipment delay causes change in COVID-19 vaccine appointments, residents still encouraged to get the shot
A delay in Pfizer shipments is causing the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to change up some of its booked vaccine appointments.
The delay lead the SHA to change about 4,000 booked Pfizer appointments to Moderna.
“We do have Pfizer arriving today and yesterday, so we are continuing on with booked appointments for Pfizer doses, as well as other avenues such as drive throughs and walk-ins, and in community pharmacies of course,” said Derek Miller, the emergency response chief for the SHA.
Miller said the SHA expects the normal shipment of vaccines at the end of the month, and will have a slight reduction of Pfizer at the start of July. But residents are encouraged to get whatever shot they can.
“It doesn't really matter if your first dose was AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna, as soon as you're eligible, then get the vaccine that's available close to you,” said Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical health officer.
Saskatchewan reported a record on Thursday, with more than two per cent of the provincial population receiving a vaccine in one day. Health Minister Paul Merriman said nearly 25,000 people rolled up their sleeves for a shot, the most the province has seen given out since the start of the vaccination campaign.
“If you're not vaccinated, there is still a very good chance you will get COVID at some point, and you may become seriously ill,” said Merriman.
Merriman said about 2,500 of the shots given on Thursday were first doses. However, the SHA is hoping to encourage more people to get their first dose. Currently only 55 per cent of residents between 12 and 17 years old have their first dose, 53 per cent for 18 to 29 year olds and 59 per cent for residents 30 to 39.
“This is the time we’ve had the most vaccines available…we're going to continue to look at spots in the province that have not got fully vaccinated or have low uptake,” said Merriman.
Merriman said when the province hits its target for reopening, it’s not the end of the vaccination program, as the SHA will keep offering vaccines for anyone who needs it.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
Concerns about Plexiglas prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.
Facial reconstruction reveals what a 40-something Neanderthal woman may have looked like
Scientists studying a Neanderthal woman's remains have painstakingly pieced together her skull from 200 bone fragments to understand what she may have looked like.
Weight-loss drug Wegovy available in Canada starting May 6
The makers of Ozempic say their weight-loss drug Wegovy will be available to patients in Canada starting Monday.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Ontario man loses $1,500 applying for Nexus cards on social media
The trusted traveller program between Canada and the United States is extremely popular and almost two million Canadians have a Nexus card.
Companies letting customers opt out of Mother's Day ads
In an effort to balance the profitability of Mother's Day with the pain it causes some people, some brands are offering customers the choice to opt out of Mother's Day email advertising.
A mother's hopes to free her son from a Syrian prison is revitalized by a new human rights report
Just days before the seventh anniversary of the day Jack Letts was thrown in prison with thousands of suspected ISIS fighters, his mother delivered a small stack of envelopes to the headquarters of Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa.