Incentives, ‘last mile program’ needed to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake: Sask. NDP

Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili thinks Premier Scott Moe and Health Minister Paul Merriman have “packed it in” on the COVID front.

“They’ve decided not just to put the toolbox away, but to throw it in the lake and ignore it,” Meili said during a news conference Wednesday.

“They’ve refused over and over again to look at incentives. They’ve refused to ramp up a “last mile program” doing the outreach by phone, booking appointments, getting people in and they’ve also refused to put any barriers in the way so that people are sure to vaccinate before they go to large events where the virus could spread, like Rider games.”

Meili said the province should be looking at incentives and more outreach programs, especially in the north — and in other areas where vaccination rates are very low, adding the surge in COVID-19 cases shouldn’t be a surprise.

“When we’re looking at 20 per cent (vaccination rate) in the La Loche area for example, having a second dose, only 35 per cent having a first dose — this is a pattern that was visible and predictable.”

Premier Scott Moe has repeatedly refused to entertain the idea of COVID-19 vaccine incentives, saying that the incentive for getting vaccinated remains staying healthy, staying out of the hospital, and ultimately not dying from the virus.

On Monday, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Buffalo River Dene First Nation Chief Elmer Campbell said in a news release that “health staff are running out of options and the death of our most vulnerable could increase unless reinforcements are brought in by the Province and RCMP to enforce rules to keep COVID-19 numbers from continuing to climb.”

On Tuesday, Health Minister Paul Merriman said the best way to fight the COVID-19 outbreaks in the north was through vaccinations, adding that they’re working with northern communities to ensure access to vaccines and making sure people have a “good understanding” of previous public health orders.

Rider game proof of vaccination

If proof of vaccination was required for Saskatchewan Roughriders games, maybe the season home opener Aug. 6 against the B.C. Lions would already be sold out, Meili also pondered.

He said the Saskatchewan Health Authority, which has several thousand tickets to give away to staff, requires them to have proof of vaccination prior to attending any of the Rider games.

“We haven’t had Rider opening game in two years and now they’re able to do it and they can’t sell out? It’s crazy. It’s crazy. Normally those tickets would sell out like nothing. But they can’t sell out because people are not feeling safe to go somewhere where they’re not feeling safe,” he added.

Meili said it would be a “win win” for everyone if proof of vaccination was required prior to not only Rider games, but all mass gathering events.