On-Line Booking COVID - 19 Vaccination Expands To Those 80 Years Old And Up

With the one day success of booking appointments for COVID - 19 vaccinations for residents 85 years of age and over the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has now opened up the vaccination appointment system to residents who are 80 years old and over.

Commencing at 8 am today (March 12) the on-line as well as phone in booking system is available for those 80 years of age and older.

People meeting this criteria can book their appointment online 24/7 using their health card at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine; or call 1-833-SASKVAX (1-833-727-5829) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Now that the booking system is operational the previously used process of direct phone-calls by the SHA to eligible individuals has been phased out. Eligible patients should go to the new booking system and not wait for a phone call.

By 2 pm yesterday almost 4,000 individuals were able to book a vaccination appointment - 2,898 or 76 per cent of appointments were made on-line and 938 or 24 per cent of appointments have been booked through the phone line.

The average wait time on the phone was about 126 minutes either on the line, or for those waiting for a call-back.

Vaccinations are being offered to those 80 years of age and over at this time but as more vaccine supply becomes available the SHA will open up vaccination appointments to younger residents.

Only people making an appointment will be able to be vaccinated at this time as well as drop ins are not being allowed at this time.

Drop-in and mobile clinics, as well as access through participating pharmacies will be available in the future.

Those who have already received an initial COVID - 19 vaccination are not eligible for a second shot at this time and those who have been vaccinated for anything else are also not eligible at this time.

The province is vaccinating residents based upon age because those facing the worst health outcomes including death is statistically older residents.

The SHA requests that it is critical that residents who are not eligible DO NOT CALL the call centre as it will stress the infrastructure and even delay eligible residents from being vaccinated.

For those who do book appointments you will require proper identification to ensure proper identification of those who show up to be vaccinated are the people who are register.

Any attempts to jump the queue will NOT BE ALLOWED and in their release the Province warns individuals who do attempt to do so by using false information face potential criminal investigation.

Also people who are vaccinated are reminded they must still obey the existing Public Health Order which includes restrictions on gathering sizes, wearing masks in public places and physical distancing of two meters.