Sask. to wait four months between first and second COVID doses

Saskatchewan is moving forward with its plan to push back second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

On Thursday, the provincial government announced it would follow a recommendation from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) regarding the interval between the first and second doses, extending it up to 16 weeks.

“Based on the evidence by NACI and its expertise in vaccine science, they are recommending that jurisdictions should maximize the number of people benefiting from the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by extending the interval between the first and second dose up to four months, in the context of limited COVID-19 vaccine supply,” the government said in a media release.

Doing so would allow every person in Saskatchewan who wants to be vaccinated to get their first shot by the end of June.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical health officer, said the province has looked at the extension very closely, including evidence from other countries that shows protection from the first shot extends into the third and fourth months after it’s administered.

“There is absolutely minimal risk of extending the second dose to the fourth month and the benefits are tremendous,” Shahab said during a media conference. “We can emerge out of the pandemic three months earlier than we had anticipated.”

Shahab said as this new plan goes forward, everything will be monitored closely.

“Are there any signals of concerns with the extension of the second dose program? Are there any signals of concern in jurisdiction where variants of concern are taking off? That may need a readjustment of the program,” explained Shahab.

Starting Friday, all vaccines will be given as first doses, with the second doses to follow four months later. Residents will be contacted by health officials and told when they’re eligible to book an appointment for their second dose.

Scott Livingstone, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said people won’t always have to wait the full 16 weeks. He anticipates it may not be necessary by June.

“That 16 weeks is an outward number right now, and as vaccine supplies will continue to flow to the province in July, August, September, November, we will be able to get those vaccines in people’s arms quicker, as long as we’re getting those first doses first,” said Livingstone.

The four-month delay won’t apply to long-term care and personal care residents and staff who still haven’t received both doses. Any existing scheduled appointments for second doses are expected to be completed at scheduled.

AstraZeneca update

Given the recommendation the AstraZeneca vaccine not be given to those 65 and older, the province announced Thursday people between the ages of 60 and 64 and priority health-care workers will be offered the first 15,500 doses of the newly approved vaccine.

“Making vaccines available to the 60-64 age sequence group is being done as an exception to Phase 1 criteria to align with the National Advisory Committee’s recommendation that AstraZeneca supply be targeted to those under 65,” the government said.

Shahab admitted it’s a bit of a blip to allow a younger age category to get a vaccine before some who are older. But Shahab said vaccines will start coming really fast and furious and everyone will be eligible much faster than they would have been.

The AstraZeneca shots will be given starting March 22 in six major hubs in Saskatchewan.

The province said it expected to dole out all of the vaccines within one week by appointment.

Livingstone explained that bookings for health-care workers will open up at the same time as bookings for the public. For the public, it will proceed by age, with those who are 64 years old in the hubs eligible first and then continuing down in age as the volume of doses allows.

“As we book appointments and those appointments fill up to the 15,000 number, we will close the booking and then move on the next week to administer the vaccine,” said Livingstone.

The booking portal and phone number are expected to be operational next week. Livingstone said they’re undergoing some changes to account for the changes in policy.