‘Finding an open spot is definitely a hunt’: People 44+ searching for vaccination appointments

The Saskatchewan Health Authority expanded the age eligibility for booking vaccination appointments Thursday — then admitted it didn’t even have appointments available in some areas.

In a tweet, the SHA said people 44 and over who accessed the system to book a vaccination would have discovered that some urban centres didn’t have spots available.

“(Saskatchewan) residents will notice there are more clinic options in rural & northern communities than in urban centres like #Regina & #Saskatoon,” the SHA said. “That is (because) all appointments in these centres are currently booked. We expect more (appointments) to be added in these communities by Apr 28.”

That’s the day the province is slated to drop the age eligibility to 40 and over.

Additional clinics will be added to the Patient Booking System as new vaccine shipments are received. Thank you for your patience & enthusiasm.

— Saskatchewan Health Authority (@SaskHealth) April 22, 2021

In another tweet, the SHA urged people to “remember that demand for appointments outweighs current available supply.”

Some people on Twitter weren’t impressed with the news, with one asking why the SHA expanded eligibility when it knew it didn’t have the necessary supply of vaccines.

Pretty sad that even though I was online at 8 AM there was nothing in Regina yet I was able to finally secure a spot out of town. Guess I’m going for a drive.

— JediKerry (@JediKerry) April 22, 2021

Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan’s minister of rural and remote health, said the eligibility was reduced to 44 because while some communities don’t have vaccine doses and appointment spots available, many others do.

“We understand the frustration that comes with not being able to immediately book an appointment where you live when your age group becomes eligible,” Hindley said. “This is the unfortunate result of not having enough vaccines.”

Victoria Ngo has been waiting to become eligible to get the shot. Despite Thursday’s frustrating circumstances, she said it’s not all doom and gloom.

“Regina is my closest option, and it wasn’t available on the site (Thursday) morning (and) Moose Jaw was full too,” Ngo said. “Weyburn was my third option to book so I ended up lucking out on a date there.

“Finding an open spot is definitely a hunt.”

Travelling just for the opportunity to get vaccinated is well worth it for Ngo, as she said it’s better than waiting even longer.

“I understand that there’s more availability in the rural areas,” she said. “I am OK with driving a little bit longer.”

Under Saskatchewan’s current health measures, unnecessary travel around the province isn’t recommended. Travelling for medical appointments is allowed, though, so heading to another town for a shot isn’t a concern.

According to Dr. Saqib Shahab — Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer — going out of town for a vaccination doesn’t constitute much of a threat.

“The way the vaccination clinics run is extremely safe,” he said, “and if you go to a neighbouring community because that’s the closest clinic … as long as you only go to get vaccinated, the way they are set up minimizes any risk of transmission to the whole community.”

Starting Thursday at 8 a.m., anyone 44 and over in the province was eligible to book an appointment online 24/7 or by calling 1-833-727-5829 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.

People between the ages of 40 and 43 living in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District were able to book by phone, as were any remaining Phase 1 health-care workers, priority-sequenced Phase 2 health-care workers, and people with underlying health conditions who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable.

There also are drive-through and walk-in clinics being held around the province.

On Friday, there are to be drive-throughs operating in North Battleford (9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 391 Yellowhead Alley) and Warman (7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., 501 Centennial Blvd.). Both are first come, first served.