The NDP is urging the provincial government to expand COVID-19 booster shots in light of the new Omicron variant and the risk of a fifth wave of the pandemic.

Leader Ryan Meili says the variant has already been confirmed in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec and at Thursday night’s physician’s town hall, it was reported that a fifth wave was not a matter of “if” but “when”.

One of the strategies the Saskatchewan Health Authority identified to address waning immunity rates was to expand doses to more Saskatchewan people, lowering the age limit from its current status of only for those over 65.

Meili notes that both the SHA and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization have approved Pfizer and Moderna booster shots for anyone 18 and older.

He adds that Manitoba is already offering booster doses to all eligible adults and Alberta and Ontario have unveiled plans to expand eligibility as well.

Meili says Saskatchewan’s healthcare system still hasn’t recovered from the fourth wave, so expanding third dose availability can help to keep the fifth wave under control