Regina 鈥� On Jan. 14, the Saskatchewan Health Authority provided an update on its COVID-19 immunization campaign and delivery plan, as part of the regular COVID-19 update delivered from the Legislature in Regina.
Derrick Miller, Executive Director of Infrastructure Management with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said by phone, 鈥淥ur immunization campaign goals include minimizing serious illness and death, protecting those that are most vulnerable, protecting our healthcare capacity, minimizing spread and also protecting our critical infrastructure. There really guide us in what we're trying to achieve with our overall campaign.鈥�
He noted, 鈥淥ur supply limitations that are being experienced with the COVID-19 vaccine require us to take a very diligent approach to sequencing the vaccine rollout.鈥�
This requires establishing priority populations, which are based on the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommendations.
In Phase 1, there are approximately 109,000 in that group. 鈥淎nd based on federal allocations that have been identified, so far, going to the end of March this year, that鈥� well have enough vaccines to vaccinate approximately 50 per cent of this group. That鈥檚 short about half, obviously, of immunizing all of the priority populations approved in this framework.鈥�
On Jan. 13, there were 1,393 doses of the vaccines delivered, the highest to date. The average per day, so far, as been just over 1,000 doses per day.
He said they anticipate running out of doses before the next allocations, as the speed of delivery means they get it out as quickly as possible and wait for the arrival of the next delivery.
Miller said there are 鈥渢hree key planks to our strategy as part of our vaccine campaign.鈥�
鈥淭he first one is faster. Speed really maters in this. Every day counts to save lives and reduced the overall impact of COVID-19.鈥�
They are establishing distribution hubs throughout for the different type of vaccines. 鈥淲e're adopting an all-hands-on-deck approach to delivery, leveraging all of our appropriate health care providers that can deliver vaccines, as well as looking for and seeking support from external resources to really bring all resources to bear, as part of this strategy,鈥� he said.
This includes mobile immunization teams to go to places like long-term care and personal care homes. Locally, they are testing different delivery methods.
He said, 鈥淏eing able to forecast vaccine distribution, with more accuracy will help us be more prepared for rapid distribution. And we know a stable, predictable and large volume allocations will really enable us for rapid delivery.鈥�
Every corner of the province is ready, in a posture of readiness, to administer the vaccine as it is received.
鈥淭he second plank of our strategy is 鈥榮marter,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淟earning matters. Using improvement is already resulting in more rapid delivery and we can see that just by the results over the last week. The health system is very experienced in delivering the influenza vaccine and other vaccinations. And we're going to leverage that as we go forward, because we know how to do this.
鈥淗owever, we also recognize that this is different. And there are pretty significant differences that are impacting this campaign. We do have limited variable and unpredictable allocations. They vary from week to week, and the timing varies as well. We need to sequence priority populations, based on that. We鈥檙e not able to offer a mass immunization right off the start.鈥�
This includes multiple vaccines with different logistical challenges across a geographically dispersed province.
Transportation changes allow them to move vaccines in a more efficient manner.
Being a single health authority makes it easier, he noted.
Miller said we are learning from our partners, including Metis and First Nations partners.
The third plank is safety. 鈥淪afety matters. High uptake requires strong communications to ensure the public knows the vaccine is safe. We know the COVID vaccine is safe. It is Health Canada-approved and has gone through the various regulatory reviews, and approval processes. We also know that it's effective, or 90 per cent effective, in reducing the risk of infection. And it's simple. It's just like getting a flu shot for Saskatchewan residents, our health care workers are highly experienced and have many years of successfully delivering flu vaccine to the residents of Saskatchewan, and ensuring that all safety requirements are achieved.鈥�
Challenges include delivery to high-risk populations in remote areas. The Pfizer vaccine has temperature constraints and special handling needs. The consent process can be time-intensive, especially in long-term care homes. Unpredictable allocations should hopefully be resolved in coming weeks. Adverse weather can be an issue.
鈥淎t the same time, we are preparing for widespread immunization in Phase 2, or we will open up access to the general population and conduct Saskatchewan鈥檚 largest-ever immunization campaign. One of our key tasks is to ensure that our teams are ready to deliver the vaccine as soon as possible on arrival, and enhance speed of delivery. This is true in Phase 1, as we're focusing on those priority populations, and it will also be true when we go into Phase 2, and get to the point where we鈥檙e vaccinating the general public,鈥� Miller said.
He added that 鈥淐urrently, our health system is at its most fragile point yet for their highest hospitalization rate, and a high case count.鈥�
Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingston added, 鈥淲e want to make sure we're getting the vaccine out as quickly as we can to those vulnerable populations and get vaccine in arm as quickly as possible. So, it won't be in the freezer as long. As the vaccines come in, we will get them out and they will go and get administered as fast as we can in the arms of those who need it very most.鈥�
He pointed out that limited supplied are limiting their capabilities, but they are focussing on the most vulnerable.
