Demand for vaccines remains rampant in small communities in Sask.

Tiny communities around Saskatchewan have been busy places as people go on the road for COVID-19 vaccinations.

One of the communities that has seen people come from all over the southern portion of the province is Bengough, located roughly 150 kilometres south of Regina.

The mayor of the village of about 300 people, Dennis Mazenc, says every time people in the region have had the opportunity to get the shot, they have made the most of it.

“We’ve had two clinics here — one about three weeks ago and we had another one on Thursday — (and) they do 50 to 60 shots each time,” Mazenc said. “Anytime there’s a clinic in this area, it’s booked solid.

“People from other communities like Coronach or Ogema come here (or) we go there. I went to Assiniboia to get my shot. You take it when you can get it.”

With more vaccine doses expected to come to the province in the next few weeks, Mazenc says it’s looked upon as great news for the region.

“It’s great because the seniors are getting vaccinated and (residents of) our health centres have all been vaccinated twice,” he said. “We’ve had our fair share of vaccines here, but I still wish there was more.”

As of 8 o’clock Friday morning, the eligibility had been moved to people 40 years of age and older in most of the province, while it’s already at 30 and older in the far north.

Mazenc hopes people in the region will continue to rally around getting vaccinated as the province plans to pump out 20,000 doses per day starting sometime next week.

“I hope more people go out and get vaccinated and support everyone else in these communities that don’t want to risk getting sick, especially our elders,” he said.

On Friday, the provincial government announced a series of drive-through and walk-in clinics are scheduled to begin operating across the province starting Saturday.

Those clinics, which are for people 40 and over, are set for:

Saturday: Prince Albert (drive-through) and Saskatoon (drive-through).

Sunday: Estevan (walk-in), Moose Jaw (drive-through), Humboldt (walk-in), Lloydminster (drive-through), Prince Albert (drive-through), Regina (drive-through) and Saskatoon (drive-through).

Monday: Lloydminster (drive-through) and Saskatoon (drive-through).

Tuesday: Saskatoon (drive-through).

Wednesday: Eston (drive-through) and Martensville (walk-in).

Thursday: Martensville (walk-in).

Friday: Regina (drive-through).

May 8: Humboldt (walk-in), Lloydminster (drive-through), Melville (drive-through), Prince Albert (drive-through) and Regina (drive-through).

“Vaccines have been distributed to these locations to support a one-day clinic only,” the government said in a media release. “Clinics may close early if supply is administered.”

Addresses and hours of operation for the clinics can be found here.