Legislative Report
10 December 2020

COVID-19 Vaccination Delivery Plan

In a tough year, there is good news Saskatchewan people can look forward to – a vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic will be available in the coming weeks. This does not, however, suggest that it is time to ease up and become less disciplined in our approach to preventing its spread. We all have a role to play in slowing the transmission of this virus and our government continues its work to ensure that resources are available to our health care providers. We continue to ask that you follow public health orders and frequently wash your hands, practice physical distancing, wear a mask and stay home if you have symptoms.

Your cooperation with public health orders, along with direction from Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, will help our province continue to weather this storm.

With the announcement of Saskatchewan’s vaccine rollout plan, the people of our province can feel encouraged for the future. We have worked closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada and will be ready to administer the COVID-19 vaccine once the first shipment is received. The Vaccine Delivery Plan is a phased approach that will begin vaccinating residents this month. Under a pilot project next week, approximately 1,950 people at Regina General Hospital will receive the first vaccinations. Those eligible for the vaccine include health care workers in ICUs, Emergency Departments and COVID Units at the Regina General and Pasqua Hospitals, as well as staff at testing and assessment centres. This pilot will be delivered in two doses, with the second vaccination being administered 21 days following the administration of the first.

Phase One of the Vaccine Delivery Plan will begin later in December across the province with more frontline health care workers, elderly residents in care homes, seniors over 80 and residents in northern remote communities. Keeping our most vulnerable populations protected has always been a priority, and I am encouraged to see that they will be at the front of the line for these vaccination deliveries.

The second phase of the Vaccine Delivery Plan is anticipated to begin in April 2021. We will continue to immunize priority populations while providing the vaccine to our general population. At this time, distribution will move to public health clinics and other vaccination delivery sites in the province.

While we are well on our way to provide safe vaccines once they arrive, there is still more work to do. Our government is committed to keeping the public up to date with accurate information on the status of the COVID-19 vaccine and delivery. For more information on our Vaccine Delivery Plan, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine.

Saskatchewan Health Authority Surge Plan

As we see increased COVID-19 cases Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is moving forward with its surge plan to meet the expected demand for patients. Service slow downs will support the redeployment of up to 600 full-time equivalent staff to aid in our response to the pandemic.

This surge plan will create capacity for 64 COVID patients requiring ICU care by mid-December. It will also create capacity for those requiring inpatient hospitalization, as well as capacity for contact tracing to keep pace with the projected demand. To help our frontline workers, please limit your social bubble as much as possible.

Redeploying our services on this scale will facilitate a service slow down to maintain an appropriate balance between the urgent needs of the pandemic response and the need for Saskatchewan residents to have access to everyday health services. The SHA and its partners have a targeted approach to minimize patient, client and resident impact while maximizing the ability to mobilize full-time staff to other areas.

It is crucial that we act now and ensure those in need receive the help that they need. By ensuring our existing capacity does not become overwhelmed, this timely slow-down has the potential to help us provide critical care for both COVID and non-COVID patients.

Soon, one hundred made-in-Saskatchewan ventilators will be available to support the needs of our province’s residents. These ventilators are being made as part of a collaboration between the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and RMD Engineering Inc. based out of Saskatoon.

The President of RMD Engineering was inspired by his daughter to develop ways to assist our health care system. She is a nurse at the Royal University Hospital and knows firsthand how important this equipment is, especially to someone who may be suffering from the virus. We are grateful for their dedication to develop a Saskatchewan-made solution to support the needs of patients.

As always, for more information on the current public health measures, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19.