Thursday afternoon, provincial Minister of Health Paul Merriman said details would be coming soon on the roadmap for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for groups under the age of 35. By Friday morning, the details were announced in a press release. 

The provincial government has set a date of May 20th for all residents of Saskatchewan over the age of 12 to be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This will apply to all immunization clinics – booked appointments, walk-ins, drive-thrus, pharmacies and mobile clinics. 

The age-based schedule is subject to vaccine delivery and may need to be revised. 

Starting Saturday, the age of eligibility will be lowered to 32, then on Monday, to 29. Starting May 12th, it will be 26, the 23 on May 14th, 20 and older starting May 16th, 16 and older on May 18th and 12 and older on May 20th. The government is looking at school-based programs for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines for those in the 12-17 age group. Details are to be announced on the school-based programs by May 20th. 

"We continue to set aggressive targets to immunize our remaining, eligible population of nearly 270,000 Saskatchewan people," Health Minister Paul Merriman said in the written release. "Our ability to reach our targets is limited only by the amount of vaccine we receive but remember that once you are eligible to receive a vaccine, you are always eligible.  You will have clinic options available and should continue to take the first vaccine that is available to you." 

The schedule of eligibility will be applied to the first dose of a vaccine only. There is a period of overlap when both first and second doses will be administered, as those who are 85 and older, or those who received their first dose before February 15th will be eligible to receive a second dose starting May 17th. Second doses will be administered roughly 13 weeks after the first dose for most residents. The interval may decrease, depending on vaccine supply and the speed of administration of the vaccines.