Sask. health minister asks northern leaders to act before COVID-19 outbreaks occur

There are plenty of vaccines to go around in northern Saskatchewan, according to Health Minister Paul Merriman, and northern leaders should communicate that with their communities.

Merriman told Gormley guest host Mike Couros there are tens of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines available for all northern communities.

“We have 42,000 vaccines up there, plus Indigenous Services Canada has an additional 14,000. Now, that’s on top of the pharmacies and the SHA which probably have another 400,000 vaccines throughout the province,” he said.

On Monday, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) asked the province for immediate help with resources and the ability to impose public health orders to try and stop a rapidly spreading COVID-19 infection on the Buffalo River Dene First Nation.

“Chief Elmer Campbell and his 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. We support his calls for action and are calling on Premier Scott Moe to help immediately” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said. “We understand that many community members are frustrated and facing COVID fatigue but we must come together to ensure our vulnerable community members are safe.”

There have also been recent outbreaks on the Hatchet Lake Dene Nation in northeastern Saskatchewan, and reportedly on the the Black Lake Dene First Nation.

However Merriman told Couros, “We would very much like the leader to talk to their communities about the benefits of getting vaccinated prior to them having an outbreak.”

“We’ve seen outbreaks in certain areas,” continued Merriman,” And we’re reacting to that. We have the opportunity right now to get ahead of that so we don’t have outbreaks of COVID-19 in certain areas of the north.”

The FSIN and to the Buffalo River Dene First Nation have yet to respond to a request for comment.