3rd COVID-19 vaccine doses for international travel would be offered in Sask. only if top doc signs off: health minister
A day after Quebec announced it would allow additional COVID-19 vaccine doses for travellers heading to countries where Astra-Zeneca or mixed doses are not recognized, health minister Paul Merriman said the option would be offered in Saskatchewan only if the province's top doctor recommends it.
Merriman was asked about the potential for a" third dose" during a news conference in Saskatoon on Tuesday.
The health minister was quick to emphasize the extra doses Quebec is offering have nothing to do with vaccine efficacy and only are about ease of movement for those travelling internationally.
"It's not about how effective the vaccines are, whether you got AstraZeneca, Moderna , or Pfizer or any combination of those … your level of protection is still the same. This is only specific to people that are travelling to countries that may have requirements that you have a double dose of the same vaccine," Merriman said.
Merriman indicated that any decision made by the province regarding additional doses would be based on the recommendation of Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.
With there is little data when it comes potential side effects that may come with an additional dose, the Government of Quebec said it would it extend the option to international travellers at their own risk.
The Saskatchewan government also said Wednesday it will not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for large events or any other purpose.
Seventy-four per cent of those over 12 have received their first dose and 62 per cent are fully vaccinated, the province says.
In a statement, it encouraged eligible residents to get vaccinated. It says the Ministry of Health continues to encourage vaccination through various social and traditional media campaigns.
“We have offered several ways to get vaccinated, including booked appointments, drive-thru and walk-in clinics, targeted community clinics and pop up clinics across the province.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.