Taking their shot: Eligibility for booster shots expanding Monday

More Saskatchewan residents will become eligible to get COVID-19 boosters on Monday.

In a media release Tuesday, the provincial government said the booster program would be expanded from the groups that became eligible Oct. 4, including people 80 and over.

Starting Monday, people 65 and over, those living in the far north and in First Nation communities aged 50 and over, and health-care workers will become eligible — provided six months have passed since their second doses.

Also becoming eligible are people born in 2009 or earlier with underlying health conditions that are considered clinically extremely vulnerable, including:

• People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
• People with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections, such as homozygous sickle cell disease;
• People who have had their spleen removed;
• Adults with very significant developmental disabilities that increase risk, such as Down’s Syndrome;
• Adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5); and,
• People with significant neuromuscular conditions requiring respiratory support.

For those seeking a booster, their immunization record will be checked at the clinic or pharmacy they attend to ensure it has been at least six months since their previous COVID vaccination.

“It is recommended that if you received two doses of an mRNA vaccine, your booster dose should be the same vaccine type,” the Ministry of Health said in a release. “If you received two different vaccine types, your third dose should be the matching mRNA vaccine — a full dose of the type of vaccine an individual received for their second dose will be given as a booster dose.

“If you received two doses of AstraZeneca, it is recommended that you receive an mRNA vaccine booster immunization.”

Anyone who already has received a third dose will not require a fourth shot.

Everyone who’s eligible to get a booster can make appointments starting Monday by going through the SHA’s online booking system or by making appointments at clinics or pharmacies. No one from the groups that were announced Tuesday can book an appointment at a clinic or pharmacy before Monday.

More groups are expected to become eligible for boosters in the coming weeks, after the people announced Tuesday have got their third shots.