SHA likely to begin school-based COVID vaccinations for kids 12+ in early June

In less than a week, children ages 12 and up in Saskatchewan will become eligible for their first COVID-19 vaccination.

In anticipation of that, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is working with the Ministry of Education and school divisions to identify eligible school-aged kids across the province for immunization teams so they can plan the program.

SHA CEO Scott Livingstone says the school-based vaccination programs have been around a long time.

“It’s really been the mainstay besides the flu vaccination in long-term care,” he said. “Child immunization is one of the oldest immunization strategies we have. It’s well-organized and (has) very, very high uptake.”

The school-based vaccination program is expected to begin in early June.

As of next Tuesday, those 16 years of age and older will be eligible for their COVID-19 vaccine. Then next Thursday, kids 12 and over will get their chance.

And they don’t have to wait until the school vaccination program gets underway, explained Livingstone.

“We will be seeing some kids trickle in through our other immunization programs, either drive-throughs or booked clinics or even pharmacies, which is fully acceptable and will take some of the case numbers away when we go into the schools,” he said.

According to the province’s COVID-19 website, because of the amount of Pfizer vaccines expected in May and June, there will be enough doses to begin both the second round of vaccinations along with the youth program.

The final details of the school-based program are still being worked out, with more details expected next week.