In the last month, vaccines for COVID-19 have been in focus in the medical community as some effective ones have been developed and will even enter emergency distribution in some countries. The time of vaccinations coming to Saskatchewan is getting closer, as the government has promised 180,000 doses in the first quarter of 2021.  

Public health officials have reiterated that the pandemic will only end when there is a vaccine for the virus. However, based on comments made by Health Minister Paul Merriman this past week at a press conference, that vaccines won't be mandatory in this province.  

"I would encourage anybody to get vaccinated," Merriman said. "This is the quickest way we can get back to a normal life, that we can start doing all the things that we were doing this time last year and we were warming up for Christmas. If people choose not to get the vaccine, that's their personal choice. There's going to be nothing forced on them." 

There was good news on the vaccine front this week from the United Kingdom, where it was announced Pfizer's vaccine would be used in an emergency capacity. They plan to begin distributing it next week, though doses will be a little longer in coming for Canadians.  

"Saskatchewan Health and the SHA have already done a lot of work getting ready to deliver this vaccine," said Merriman. "They will have a more detailed presentation on that plan sometime next week. For now, I want everybody to know we in Saskatchewan are ready to go. As soon as the federal government is able to start delivering the vaccine to us, we will be ready to deliver that to Saskatchewan people quickly and safely." 

Merriman added that between delivery, storage, and actually administering doses of the vaccine, it would take a lot of workers and a lot of money to get completely ready. The Canadian government has secured a preliminary order of vaccines from both Pfizer and Moderna.