Vaccine distribution shifts to Saskatoon to preserve hospital capacity

There has been a noticeable shift in vaccine distribution in Saskatchewan and it’s not by accident.

Health Minister Paul Merriman told reporters Monday the province has started funneling more vaccines into Saskatoon as a proactive measure to prevent COVID-19 variants from taking hold as they have in Regina.

“The reason that we’re getting into Saskatoon a little bit more is to make sure that we’re protecting our provincial health-care capacity,” Merriman said. “We don’t want things to get overwhelmed in Saskatoon because that is our provincial capacity, kind of our reserves.”

Since April 23, the Bridge City has been outpacing Regina for doses going into arms. On Tuesday, the provincial government reported 3,103 vaccinations had been done in Saskatoon compared to 330 in Regina in the latest reporting period.

Merriman noted having Regina’s drive-through clinic closed and Saskatoon’s open last weekend accounted for some disparity in the numbers.

Dr. Susan Shaw, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s chief medical officer and critical care physician, provided an update on the ICU situation on Gormley on Tuesday.

“What we are seeing now is young people are presenting with much more severe illness in a way that we have not seen in Saskatchewan before. It’s really a late sign that COVID is everywhere,” said Shaw.

“This is happening all around the world where the variants are showing themselves to be a very dangerous virus.”

Shaw said while death rates appear to be lower compared to earlier in the pandemic, people who are leaving the ICU are reporting long-term effects such as weakness, shortness of breath and post-traumatic stress disorder.

As of Tuesday afternoon, hospitals across the province were caring for 186 COVID-19 patients, with 42 in intensive care.