The vaccine delivery plan announced earlier this week by the provincial government is getting a thumbs down from the group representing 2,600 physicians across the province.
The Saskatchewan Medical Association says that plan doesn’t give the protection physicians and health-care workers need to properly care for their patients—some of whom are afraid to visit a doctor or healthcare facility because of the virus. Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz says this plan does not provide people with reassurance that the entire healthcare system is safe.
She is calling on Health Minister Paul Merriman to fix this.
“I worry about the many physicians across the province who are seeing patients daily and who are not protected,” Konstantynowicz said. “I am concerned about patients are reluctant to see their doctors out of fear of contracting COVID-19. A more planned, systematic approach to vaccinations among healthcare workers will provide those needing care or needing to visit a doctor with the reassurance that engaging with the health-care system is becoming safer and will lead to a quicker resumption of everyday health services.”
Konstantynowicz says a previous plan was specific in stating most remaining physicians would be vaccinated in Phase 2 of the program and that other provinces are doing that so she would like to know what prompted the change.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has stated the change in vaccine distribution resulted in that previous plan to be revised.