A vial of Pfizer vaccine at a mass immunization clinic in P.A. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Launching early June

P.A. school divisions awaiting vaccination program details

May 15, 2021 | 8:00 AM

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is preparing to launch an in-school COVID-19 immunization program in early June, and Prince Albert area school divisions are standing by for the details.

On Tuesday, SHA CEO Scott Livingstone told reporters the SHA was meeting with the Ministry of Education and school divisions to plan to program.

“This week [we’re] identifying all school aged kids across the province and providing that information to our vaccination teams,” Livingstone said.

“Child immunization is one of the oldest immunization strategies we have. It’s well-organized and [has a] very, very high uptake, so we’re getting those things in place now,” Livingstone continued. “The program will be launched very early in June.”

More information on in-school immunizations is expected next week.

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The provincial government anticipates children aged 16 and up will be eligible to receive the vaccine on May 18, and kids 12 and older will be eligible on May 20. The government’s proposed timeline is subject to vaccine availability.

Livingstone said some kids will “trickle in” to immunization clinics and pharmacies, ahead of the launch of the in-school program.

P.A. schools on standby

Lorel Trumier, director of education for the Prince Albert Catholic School Division told paNOW the division is standing by for more information.

“We’re a little bit on a hold pattern,” Trumier said. “We know it’s coming.”

As a preliminary step, the division has discussed using large areas within its schools like gyms to host vaccine clinics for students once the SHA is ready to roll-out the program.

“The weather is great and we should be taking kids outside as much as possible, so this I think will be a double win if that occurs,” Trumier said, indicating she didn’t think students would mind more outdoor gym classes.

Meanwhile Robert Bratvold, director of education for Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division, said he’s similarly waiting for more information.

“The local and provincial health teams are working on the outlines of the plans and have suggested we await further details before making any specific preparations,” Bratvold said in an email to paNOW.

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alison.sandstrom@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alisandstrom