Saskatchewan to release plan for rollout of Moderna vaccine for northern residents – Times Colonist

Saskatchewan to release plan for rollout of Moderna vaccine for northern residents – Times Colonist

REGINA — Saskatchewan is to release details today on how it will vaccinate older residents in the north against the novel coronavirus.

The province’s health minister and chief medical health officer are to provide a briefing about the rollout of the Moderna vaccine, which is set to arrive in Saskatchewan this week.

Before Christmas, officials said they expected to receive 4,900 doses.

The province planned to use the Moderna vaccine to immunize residents in northern Saskatchewan and remote communities because it’s easier to transport than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which needs ultracold storage.

So far, more than 2,300 health-care workers in Regina and Saskatoon have received a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Premier Scott Moe said last week that those living in long-term care facilities would also be among the first in line to get the Moderna shots.

The province recorded 208 new COVID-19 infections over Monday and Tuesday. Fewer than 1,300 tests were processed each of those days.

Officials also said another 10 residents have died from the virus and 175 people were in hospital.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2020

Published at Wed, 30 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000