Posted: Dec 13, 2020 9:16 AM CT | Last Updated: December 13, 2020
The Saskatchewan Medical Association is hoping there won t be any delays in distributing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be rolled out in two doses.(Frank Augstein/The Associated Press)
Saskatchewan doctors are watching closely as the provincial government prepares to roll out the first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines in Saskatchewan.
On Tuesday, the province is set to start distributing 1,950 doses of the vaccine as they are received as part of a pilot project in Regina. The province is currently depending on a second successful delivery of the vaccine for the required second dose within 21 to 28 days.
According to FSIN Vice Chief David Pratt, the FSIN Cultural Responsiveness Framework (CRF) was developed in 2013 to address systemic racism that exists within the Saskatchewan health-care system. Since 2014, the FSIN has been working collaboratively with CME and CERS on how to integrate the CRF into the USask Indigenous wellness course. “Conceptually, this course is designed to move mainstream health practitioners into a ‘middle ground’ space through increased cultural awareness and understanding and from this place of understanding, have individuals and work units commit to meaningful, culturally responsive changes that will make their workplace more culturally respectful and safe for Indigenous people,” said Pratt. “The expectation would be that the more individuals who take this course, the greater the potential there is for affecting meaningful, substantive, systemic change that will combat the racism that continues to exist in the mainstream health system.”
Health care organizations across Saskatchewan are teaming up in an online ad campaign that targets young adults and asks them to “hang in there” by following public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A total of 25 health organizations have combined to support the campaign in a broadly based show of unity that spans the health system. The campaign’s website WeAreSickOfThisToo.ca expresses the campaign’s theme that young adults– along with all Saskatchewan people- want a return to normal while restrictions continue to be necessary as COVID case numbers rise.
The six-week online campaign includes website and social media advertising designed by MGM Communications. The campaign is designed to be empathetic as people grow fatigued by restrictions, yet call for compliance.