People trying to get their young children vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saskatoon on Friday faced long wait times, with some reserving their appointments for other days.
Friday marked the first day that all Saskatchewan parents of children aged six months to five years could make an appointment for a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine.
Some parents in Regina reported having difficulty reserving slots on Friday, but some parents in Saskatoon were able to get reservations.
However, parents in Saskatoon are reporting waiting more than two hours to get their children vaccinated at the local clinic in Prairieland Park.
Sean Brandt said he was excited after his wife successfully booked a vaccine appointment for his children for 10:30 a.m. CST, but when he arrived at Prairieland, he was greeted by a long line of children and adults snaking out of the building .
After waiting about an hour with his 18-month-old and four-year-old, he decided to make an appointment for another day.
“It’s not exactly like waiting in line at Disney,” he said.
“There is no rest from the children’s point of view at the end of an hour’s wait.”
Brandt said a Saskatchewan health official on the scene apologized to the families and told them the staff at the vaccination clinic thought they would only see immunocompromised children that day, so only two or three staff were working at the clinic that day.
“It’s a little disappointing,” Brandt said.
“I’m a teacher so I’m leaving anyway. It didn’t really cost me anything except a little time. But I do feel for the working parents who potentially had to book a day off and arrange this just for the appearance of being told no once you get to the gate.”
A spokesperson for Saskatchewan’s health authority acknowledged there was some delay, but said that’s normal when new age groups become vaccine-eligible.
Many parents chose to book same-day appointments, leading to a rapid increase in bookings on Friday morning, the spokesman said.
Limited doses
Health officials previously warned parents that there were a limited number of doses available, with only 13,000 doses of the pediatric vaccine received in the province so far.
Once bookings for these doses are filled, appointments for young children will be suspended until an additional supply of vaccines arrives.
The Moderna Spikevax vaccine doses are specially formulated for young children.
Pharmacists are not allowed to vaccinate children under the age of five. As a result, all pediatric imaging will be done in provincial clinics.
Children who have been infected with COVID-19 must wait at least eight weeks between infection and vaccination.
Children must also wait eight weeks between the first and second doses of the two-dose vaccine.
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