The number of people to receive their first vaccine dose in Saskatchewan has been rising steadily and, as it closes in on 100,000, the numbers are expected to rise even faster with more availability. This comes from both a greater supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the introduction of two new accepted vaccines. 

With over 92,000 people getting their first dose already, some may wonder when we'll start seeing the impact of vaccines on COVID cases and hospitalizations. The province would say some of those impacts are already noticeable. 

"Even here in Saskatchewan, we are, in my view, seeing a definite impact in terms of reduced cases and outbreaks in long-term care facilities," said Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer. "That's easy to measure. Beyond that, I think our vaccination numbers are now picking up in 80-plus and 70-plus, but it will take about six weeks for those numbers to pick up."

Last week, the province reported they had offered first doses of the vaccine to 100 percent of long-term care home residents and over 50 percent of them were now fully vaccinated with both shots. With the decision to delay second shots and focus on first doses, the hope is the province will prevent severe outcomes for more people than ever. 

"It does take up to three weeks for everyone to get their high level of protection from a single dose," Dr. Shahab said. "That's why we all have to follow public health measures so we reduce exposures until we are all fully vaccinated."

Though the vaccines may be working, there are other reasons for what has been a downward trend in cases since mid-January. For one thing, according to Dr. Shahab, people over a certain age have simply been taking more steps to shield themselves from the virus. 

"Always we've seen high rates in 20 to 40-year-olds," he said. "Younger adults more likely to be out working and in frontline occupations, more likely to be exposed otherwise socially. The rates in 50-and-older, especially 60-plus have been lower, but unfortunately, hospitalizations and deaths have been much higher."

Dr. Shahab added we are seeing a positive trend, but that trend reinforces the need for quick deployment of vaccines and following of public health orders while awaiting the arrival of those vaccines in all age groups.