Most new COVID cases in Sask. in July weren’t fully vaccinated, health ministry says

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health continues to urge people to stick it to COVID.

On Monday, the ministry released updated vaccination and breakthrough information for the month of July. It showed most new cases and serious outcomes from those cases were among people who weren’t vaccinated or who hadn’t received both doses.

“More than 90 per cent of all new cases and hospitalizations in Saskatchewan in July were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people,” the ministry said in a media release. “Ninety-five per cent of ICU admissions were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, and 100 per cent of deaths were unvaccinated.”

According to the ministry, 921 of the 1,220 cases reported in the month were people who hadn’t been vaccinated of who had tested positive within three weeks of their first shot.

There also were 184 cases among people who had received one dose, and 115 cases among those who were fully vaccinated.

There were 83 people hospitalized with COVID during the month, including 66 people who hadn’t been vaccinated or who had tested positive within three weeks of their first shot. Ten of the hospitalizations had received one shot and seven were fully vaccinated.

Only one of 20 COVID patients admitted to an ICU in the month had received both shots; that person was over 70 and had comorbid medical conditions.

Two of the ICU cases had received one shot and the other 17 hadn’t been vaccinated or were less than three weeks from getting their first shot.

The four deaths reported in the month all were people who hadn’t been vaccinated or had received their shot less than three weeks earlier.

The numbers for the month also showed 31.6 per cent of the new cases were 19 years old or younger. A further 18.4 per cent were 12 and under, a group that currently can’t get COVID shots since there aren’t any vaccines approved for that age group.

“However, no one 19 years of age or under required ICU care or died due to COVID-19 during this period,” the ministry noted.

The data also showed vaccine uptake by region, with the far northwest, far north-central and far northeast areas all still under 60 per cent.

The statistics appear below.

People can get vaccinated at participating pharmacies and at pop-up and walk-in clinics operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Make a splash against COVID

The City of Regina is staging vaccination clinics at outdoor pools, with free passes to the Queen City Ex available as a bonus to people who attend the clinics.

The clinics are open to anyone aged 12 and over who wants to get a first or second dose. They’re operating on a first-come, first-served basis.

The pop-ups are operating this week at Maple Leaf Pool (Monday, noon to 4 p.m.), Regent Pool (Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.), Buffalo Meadows Pool (Friday, noon to 4 p.m.) and Massey Pool (Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.).