The age eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines in Saskatchewan is again being lowered by the provincial government. It was announced Tuesday afternoon those 42 and older will be eligible to book their appointments starting on Wednesday, and then those 40 and older can start to book appointments on Friday. Those appointments can be booked online, or by phone. 

"We know Saskatchewan has been leading the country in vaccination rates per capita," Health Minister Paul Merriman said in a written release. "We are limited by our vaccine supply, but as larger volumes of vaccine arrive, we are taking an aggressive approach to getting shots in the arms of as many residents as possible as quickly as possible."

In addition to the age eligibility, it was also announced eligible priority workers in the province will be able to book appointments. Those workers include police, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, public health inspectors, teachers, educational staff working with students, and previously identified frontline health care workers.

Priority workers will need to provide proof of employment through a letter from their employer, a paystub no older than March 1st of this year, or a copy of their professional license. They will only be able to book their appointments via telephone.

All others who are eligible to receive a vaccination will be able to book through the province’s online portal.

It was also announced by Premier Scott Moe an agreement has been reached with the state of North Dakota for the vaccination of essential workers such as truckers, as well as essential energy workers, who cross the border frequently. Truckers from Saskatchewan will be eligible to receive a vaccination at the Department of Transportation rest area near Drayton, North Dakota. Another vaccination site has been approved near the border crossing at North Portal. The exact dates and times for that site have yet to be determined.

“Trade with the United States is essential for the Saskatchewan economy,” Premier Moe explained. “These essential workers are crossing the border to ensure our residents and those in the United States have access to the goods and services they need to get through this pandemic. This extraordinary level of cooperation helps protect more Canadians at a time when vaccine availability in America exceeds that of Canada, and we thank Governor Burgum for working with our province to make this happen.”

There is no cost for the vaccination program for either the state of North Dakota or Saskatchewan, as the United States government is providing the vaccines, and reimbursing the cost of administering the vaccine.