A Saskatchewan Government news release, summarizing COVID-19 numbers in the month of August, aims squarely at unvaccinated provincial residents as the reason for the uptick on cases of the novel coronavirus.  Eighty-three-and-a-half per cent of new cases last month were people either unvaccinated or within three weeks of receiving their first dose. Seventy-nine-point-four per cent of hospitalized patients were unvaccinated or within three weeks of taking their first shot.

Thirty-three of 41 virus cases being treated in an I-C-U were either unvaccinated or individuals within three weeks of receiving their first vaccine dose. Twelve of 22 COVID-19-related fatalities were unvaccinated people. In addition, of the 4,596 cases reported in August, 17-point-three per cent were aged 11 years or younger. Of the 189 individuals who were hospitalized, five-point-three per cent were aged 19 years or younger and three-point-two per cent were under 12 years with one under 12 years admitted to I-C-U. As of now, there are no COVID-19 vaccines approved for children under 12. However, Moderna has been approved by Health Canada for youth ages 12-17 years.

Nearly 84 per cent of all new cases and hospitalizations in Saskatchewan in August were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people.  While serious COVID-19 outcomes continue to be higher for unvaccinated populations, the risk of breakthrough infections rises with increases in transmission.  All Saskatchewan residents who are eligible for immunization need to receive both doses as soon as they are able.

The Ministry of Health has updated the COVID-19 vaccination and breakthrough information for August 1-31, 2021.  Highlights include:

• Of the 4,596 cases reported in August, 3,840 (83.5 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination.  Four hundred and twenty-four cases (9.2 per cent) were partially vaccinated with one dose, while 756 cases (16.4 per cent) were fully vaccinated . Of the 756 cases with a second dose, 17.6 per cent (133) had comorbid conditions.
• Of the 189 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, 150 (79.4 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination.  Fourteen cases (7.4 per cent) were partially vaccinated with one dose, while 39 cases (20.6 per cent) were fully vaccinated.
• Of the 41 individuals admitted to ICU, 33 (80.5 per cent) were unvaccinated or tested positive within three weeks of receiving their first vaccination. Two cases (4.9 per cent) were partially vaccinated with one dose, while eight cases (19.5 per cent) were fully vaccinated.
• Co-morbidities and age continue to contribute to COVID-19 outcomes.  Of the 14 hospitalized and/or ICU cases with a first dose, 42.9 per cent had comorbid conditions and 21.4 per cent were 70 years and older. Of the 39 hospitalized and/or ICU cases with a second dose, 56.4 per cent had comorbid conditions and 69.2 per cent were 70 years and older.  However, this does not mean that individuals in all age groups are not experiencing significant COVID-19 illness:  23 (24.5 per cent) of the 94 infectious COVID-19 patients in acute care are less than 40 years old.
• Among the cases reported in August, 22 individuals passed away; 12 were unvaccinated.
• All vaccination and breakthrough data reports are available in the COVID-19 vaccination information at www.saskatchewan.ca.

Of the 4,596 cases reported in August 2021, 17.3 per cent (793) were aged 11 years or younger. Of the 189 individuals who were hospitalized, 5.3 per cent (10) were aged 19 years or younger and 3.2 per cent (six) were under 12 years with one under 12 years admitted to ICU.

At this point in time, there are no COVID-19 vaccines approved for children under 12. All residents 12+ are encouraged to be fully vaccinated to afford these groups the best circle of protection possible.

Transmissible diseases like COVID-19 are opportunistic:  they will spread to and among under- and unvaccinated populations.  It’s critical that all eligible Saskatchewan residents get vaccinated.

Moderna available to 12-17 year olds

Moderna has been approved by Health Canada for youth ages 12-17 years.  Like Pfizer, Saskatchewan residents will see Moderna offered to youth turning 12 years of age by December 31, 2021 and older, as part of the COVID-19 vaccination program.

COVID-19 “boosters” for long term, personal care, and select immuno-compromised residents

Starting today, eligible vulnerable populations will be eligible to receive a third dose of an mRNA vaccine “booster” to ensure a robust immune system response.  This includes residents of long-term care and personal care homes; transplant recipients (solid organ transplant, islet cell, tissue and hematopoietic stem cell transplants); recipients in stable, active treatment for malignant, hematologic disorders (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy); and recipients of an anti-CD20 immunosuppressive drugs (e.g. rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab).

• Letters to identify eligible recipients are currently being mailed from either their physicians or the Ministry of Health.  Recipients must bring the letter to a pharmacy or pop-up clinic as proof of eligibility.
• Long-term care and personal care homes will be contacted directly by the Saskatchewan Health Authority to arrange for the boosters.

The required interval for boosters is 28 days after the second dose of an mRNA vaccine.

Details on additional, eligible populations will be available in the next few weeks, after this at-risk group is completed.

COVID-19 Summary for September 7, 2021: 

• From September 1 – 7, 14,039 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 1,490,413.
• As of September 7, 77 per cent of those 12+ have received their first dose and 69 per cent of those 12+ are fully vaccinated.
• There were 2,452 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan from September 1 – 7, bringing the provincial total to 56,838 cases.  One thousand, four hundred and eighty-one recoveries were recorded during the same period.
• The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan is currently 350 (29.1 per 100,000).
• Ten new deaths were reported September 1 – 7.
• There were five (5) cases confirmed as Variants of Concern between September 1- 7.
• As of September 7, there are 154 people in hospital: 125 are receiving inpatient care and 29 are in intensive care.  One hundred and ten of the people in hospital (71.4 per cent) are not fully vaccinated.
• From September 1 – 7, there were 20,914 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan.

Daily provincial COVID-19 statistics by age, date and geographic zones including active cases, recoveries, confirmed variants of concern and vaccination information can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-cases.