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COVID-19 Vaccination Boosters To Start September 7th

With increasing COVID-19 transmission in all regions of the province, public health officials remind all residents that the best practices continue to protect against transmission, including the Delta variant:

  • Get vaccinated.  Two doses are required for optimal protection.
  • Mask or maintain physical distancing when you cannot verify the vaccination status of others outside your home.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Stay home and seek a COVID-19 test if experiencing even mild symptoms.

Vaccination remains the best option to prevent COVID-19 transmission as well as serious illness and death.  The Saskatchewan Health Authority and pharmacies throughout the province continue to provide vaccination clinics.  Find a clinic near you at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine.

Starting today, the Saskatchewan.ca COVID-19 cases and risk page will also include vaccination rates by zone and age group, available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-cases.

This information will be posted as a PDF daily until it can be integrated into the dashboard application.

Vaccination Boosters for Immunocompromised Residents

Real-world evidence indicates that there are factors that may contribute to the waning of effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the age of the recipients and if the individual is immunocompromised due to a medical condition or medication.

Saskatchewan will begin offering vaccination “boosters” to eligible populations starting Tuesday, September 7.  Note that booster doses will be administered at least 28 days following receipt of the second mRNA dose (Pfizer or Moderna).

Those eligible to receive booster immunizations in the first phase, starting September 7 include:

  • Residents of long-term care and personal care homes.
  • Transplants recipients (including solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplants).
  • Recipients of stable, active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy) for malignant hematologic disorders.
  • Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (e.g. rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab).

Eligibility letters will be sent either from your physician or from the Ministry of Health.  Additional eligible immunocompromised groups will be announced soon.

This is in addition to the additional doses of COVID-19 vaccinations for Saskatchewan residents who may require them for international travel.

For more information visit www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine.

Proof of Vaccination for Health Care Workers

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 elect not to be fully vaccinated, they will be required to undertake regular COVID-19 testing.

The details on this workplace policy will be announced in the coming days.

Proof of Vaccination for Venues, Events

Businesses, municipalities, venue and event organizers may request proof of vaccination to host and attend events or access their services.  This documentation is available now to anyone who requires it through the one-page printable form from a personal MySaskHealthRecord (MSHR) account at eHealth Saskatchewan. Visit MySaskHealthRecord to set up your account now.

Work is underway to include a digital QR (Quick Response) code to the MSHR vaccination record in early fall.  This will ensure this record meets the standards set by the Government of Canada to help support proof of vaccine for international travel.

Further information will be provided in the coming weeks about QR code readers and how they may be used by domestic organizations seeking to use this QR code as part of their proof of vaccination requirements for their venues and/or events.

Security, privacy, and patient confidentiality are paramount in the QR code solution.

Living With COVID-19

For guidance on living with COVID-19, including the requirements for self-isolation if you have a positive COVID-19 test, expectations around masking, information for businesses and workplaces and the visitation requirements for acute care as well as long term care and personal care homes, go to https://www.saskatchewan.ca/living-with-covid.

General COVID-19 Information

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

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