Saskatchewan teacher relieved after getting COVID vaccine

Some Saskatchewan teachers are breathing a sigh of relief as they begin to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Starting last week, education staff who work directly with students were added to the list of those who can roll up their sleeves for a shot.

Many have taken advantage of drive-through clinics, pharmacies and booking through the government.

Thirty-year-old Riley Sharp, a teacher at Swift Current Comprehensive High School, got his first jab on Saturday.

“The biggest takeaway I had was just the satisfaction I had when getting the shot. It doesn’t mean everything’s over, but it felt like a really positive day when we haven’t had a lot of those,” he said Monday.

Classes are in person at his school, so he’s relieved to lessen the risk for himself and his students.

“One of the things I always worry about is the fact that I teach … eight separate groups of kids (who) come in and out,” Sharp said. “I feel like I don’t want to be the link between them.

“I don’t want to be that contact point that could somehow spread between classes, so I think having teachers vaccinated is helpful in that regard.”

Teachers became eligible Friday. Sharp tried to book an appointment through the province’s online booking system right away, but was unable to get a spot. However, he heard about a pharmacy in Shaunavon that was booking vaccine appointments. He gladly made the 108-kilometre drive.

“It was fantastic. I mean, there aren’t many reasons to go on a road trip these days, but that was one that I could definitely justify,” he said with a laugh.

To prove he was eligible, Sharp said he just had to show a paystub when he showed up.

Overall, he’s hopeful that the new school year in September will look a lot more normal.

“It really felt like a significant day …,” he said of Saturday. “It just felt like almost an accomplishment.

“I get why people are posting their photos. It really is a day that I think people should be proud of.”

Along with teachers, educational staff who work directly with students, police officers, firefighters, frontline health-care workers, prison staff and border security officers also are eligible to get a vaccine.

For the general public, anyone 40 or older can roll up their sleeve. That number is to drop to 37 on Tuesday.