Lac La Ronge Tammy Cook-Searson said people will need to make a choice whether to receive the vaccine or not. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

coronavirus

Cook-Searson supports vaccine approval, provincial rollout plan

Dec 9, 2020 | 4:54 PM

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson is grateful Health Canada has approved the Pfizer vaccine and supports the provincial government’s plan for its rollout.

“It’s a good sign and we’re moving in the right direction with our fight with COVID-19,” she said. “I’m grateful we have a vaccine coming to our communities and, of course, everyone has a choice whether or not they get vaccinated. It’s really encouraging the new vaccine has been improved by Health Canada.”

She’s also in support of how the vaccine will first be distributed to Regina staff providing direct care to COVID-19 patients, with the recognition that additional vaccine is being sent to Saskatchewan in the coming weeks in order to vaccinate the health-care workforce across the province. The province is expecting 1,950 doses of the vaccine by Dec. 15.

In Phase 1, which is expected to begin by the end of the month, the vaccine delivery plan will focus on populations at higher risk such as health care workers, elderly residents in care homes, seniors over 80, and residents in remote northern communities.

“It will take time, of course, to vaccinate the whole population, but to have the prioritization of the vaccine in how its rolling out and targeting areas where people are at the most risk or vulnerable will start to make a huge difference once they start rolling out the vaccine,” Cook-Searson said. “So, it’s welcome news for us, and we’re really grateful there is a plan and the vaccine has been approved for Canada.”

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Cook-Searson also supports the plan to vaccinate residents in remote northern communities as there are fewer resources in the North like hospitals. Currently, she said coronavirus patients from northern Saskatchewan have to be taken to southern hospitals.

Saskatchewan is expected to receive 202,052 doses by May 2021.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno