Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Vaccine rollout

Far North East to receive Moderna vaccine, after previously being excluded from rollout plans

Jan 7, 2021 | 2:11 PM

When the Saskatchewan government initially announced its COVID-19 vaccine rollout plans in December, it didn’t include the Far North East region to receive it in the rollout’s first stage. However, that shortcoming has been quickly addressed although it needed a push from northern leaders.

The Far North East includes the two largest First Nations in the province — the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. Leaders in the area, like Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Peter Beatty, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, La Ronge Mayor Colin Ratushniak and Air Ronge Mayor Julie Baschuk, fought for the inclusion of the Far North East in the province’s rollout plans.

In fact, Chief Beatty said the Far North East leaders and medical health officers were not consulted in the planning of the rollout.

“For heaven’s sakes, think of the North as a whole across the board. Don’t just concentrate on one section of the North because you have to protect the frontline workers that handle COVID patients,” Beatty said. “That would include the nurses, doctors, senior home care staff because there are senior facilities in the North. Even the EMS people and people that transport COVID patients. Go there first, and then roll it out to the general public, but for heaven’s sakes, they should have looked at it.”

Beatty said he received a response “really quickly” from the government and they did include the Far North East in their Moderna rollout plans. Originally, 4,900 Moderna doses were to arrive in the Far North Central and Far North West regions by New Year’s Eve, with delivery anticipated for Jan. 4 and Jan. 11.

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But as it turned out, the government actually ended up allocating the most doses to the Far North East with 1,450, with 1,370 going to the North East (in Melfort), 1,370 to the Far North West and 710 to the Far North Central.

The shipments to the Far North East and North East are happening “as soon as possible,” according to the SHA’s Wednesday release.

“[The original plan] didn’t make a whole lot of sense. It was perplexing and worrying — but they did make some headway. They heard our concerns and they are addressing them,” Beatty said.

The Moderna vaccines are being shipped to the three Far North regions as Moderna is much easier to transport and store safely than the Pfizer vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine requires an ultra-low temperature freezer and has a shorter shelf life, and is limited to Saskatchewan’s big city centres.

Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab has said in public appearances that there are plans in the future to have the Pfizer vaccine available in other parts of the province.

Health minister Paul Merriman confirmed in a media conference Wednesday the Far North East is going to get their Moderna allocation. “It’s left Regina. It is on its way up there.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW