Third COVID booster shot to be offered in Saskatchewan this fall

A third COVID-19 booster dose will be offered in Saskatchewan starting in the fall.

“We will start by offering the third booster to the most vulnerable people in long-term care,” Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical health officer, said during a media conference Friday.

Shahab said the third booster rollout will start in the fall and then the shots gradually will become available for all ages through the winter. He’s encouraging people who have not already received their first booster to get the shot.

“We have had a great uptake for people 50 years old to get their first booster,” said Shahab. “But more than half of people under 50 haven’t gotten their first booster dose.”

According to the monthly COVID epidemiological report issued by the provincial government Thursday, hospitalizations that had trended lower in previous months climbed again.

The rate of positive tests also is trending upwards, rising from four per cent to 7.4 per cent.

As well, 46 outbreaks in long-term and personal care homes were reported between July 17 and this past Saturday compared to just three reported between June 26 and July 16.

With the second booster available for people 18 and over, Shahab is now encouraging people to get their first booster if they have not already.

“Right now, two doses is not enough to be considered fully vaccinated,” said Shahab. “This does reduce the chance for community transmission and also markedly reduces your risk for hospitalization.”

Eighty per cent of people 12 and older in Saskatchewan have received their first two doses.

Shahab says these upward trends should be treated on a basis of “one’s own risk assessment.” He said it was fine that many chose not to wear a mask over the summer, but when people go back to school or work in the fall, they may want to mask up again.

“I think that as we get into the respiratory season of coughs and colds, there will be more people who choose to put on a mask,” said Shahab.

Shahab is also encouraging parents to get their children’s first and second vaccinations done as the kids head back to school.

Only five per cent of children and infants between the ages of six months and four years have had their first dose.

Shahab also suggested health officials may do a more frequent COVID statistic in the fall and winter.