Eligibility for second dose of COVID vaccine changing Thursday

More Saskatchewan residents will be eligible to get a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced Wednesday the age of eligibility will drop to 55 and over from its current level of 60 and up.

As well, anyone who received their first vaccination on or before April 7 can get a second shot starting Thursday. The date had been set at March 29.

People who have been diagnosed with or are being treated for cancer and those who have received solid organ transplants will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail that will give them priority access to a second dose.

In the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, anyone 40 and over is eligible for a second dose regardless of when they received their first dose, provided they’ve passed the minimum interval between doses for the vaccine brand they received.

Every Saskatchewan resident aged 12 and over is eligible to receive a first dose.

People who got a dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as a first shot should get the same brand of vaccine for their second dose, but they can get the other if their first choice isn’t available.

Anyone who received AstraZeneca as their first dose can get that vaccine as a second dose where available, but they also can switch to Pfizer or Moderna if they so choose.

Details about making appointments for vaccinations or about drive-thru and walk-in clinics operated by the SHA are available here.

Pharmacies around the province also are participating in the vaccination rollout, and there are clinics being held at schools across Saskatchewan to vaccinate those aged 12 and up.