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A walk-in vaccination clinic was held at the Moosomin Communiplex last week to distribute the AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone ages 55 and up in Moosomin and surrounding communities and proved popular despite stormy weather closing some roads
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The clinic was open from 10 am to 6 pm and no appointments were necessary to receive a vaccine.
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Director of Primary Healthcare for Network Seven Trent Truscott says that the walk-in clinic was a different approach than the usual appointment clinics.
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He says that the walk-in clinic saw a good turnout.
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鈥淥ur count as of the late afternoon on Tuesday was over 100 people through the walk-in clinic in Moosomin. Our clinics that we鈥檝e been running with the Moderna vaccine were pre-booked and still will be. We also have more clinics scheduled for this week. We ran the AstraZeneca clinic in Moosomin and one in Kenosee Lake which were walk-in clinics and is a bit of a different approach, it鈥檚 a bit more traditional and a bit more like a flu clinic where you can just drop in.听
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鈥淲e got some really good turnout in Moosomin and we鈥檙e really happy about that,鈥� Truscott said. He said he has received the AstraZeneca vaccine himself.
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鈥淚 got an AstraZeneca vaccine the other day because I just thought to myself that I would get whatever is available. It鈥檚 nice to have this vaccine available for us.鈥�
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Truscott notes that there have been minimal issues with vaccine clinics in Network Seven, which includes Moosomin and its surrounding area.
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The only issue that Truscott brought attention to was the availability of the vaccines, which is an issue that stems from the manufacturers.
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Truscott says that the SHA is ready to distribute the vaccine whenever it is supplied, noting Moosomin as a hub for distribution.
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鈥淭here have been some delays that we have no say in. But the vaccine comes to us in Moosomin and we鈥檙e a hub, we have the appropriate equipment to store it like the fridge and freezer, then we can get it out to Kipling who also has a fridge (that can handle the very low temperatures the vaccine must be kept at). So that movement of the vaccine within the network works really nicely and once we set up a clinic, our clinics run very smoothly we鈥檙e very happy with everybody鈥檚 patience and just how smooth our clinics run.
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鈥淭here have been some delays, as we all know, with the Moderna vaccine getting to us in Saskatchewan and us here in town. But those are delays from manufacturers and not delays from within hubs like Moosomin.鈥�
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Truscott says that when there is more supply of the Moderna vaccine appointments will need to be made to receive a dose, however, if more AstraZeneca vaccines are made available there will be more walk-in clinics similar to the one in Moosomin last week.
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鈥淪o we鈥檙e following provincial direction. For our Moderna vaccine, which is going to be a large majority of the vaccine that we鈥檙e going to give in Moosomin and surrounding areas like Kipling, Wawota, or Kenosee Lake, we will continue to do booked clinics. We will offer those through the online booking system and you will get the Moderna vaccine at this point and there鈥檚 no sign of that changing yet. We鈥檒l continue to give the Moderna vaccine.听
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鈥淚f we get more of the AstraZeneca vaccine we will then do walk-in clinics again. You will have to be 55 or over to take it. It鈥檚 a good one to do as a walk-in because it鈥檚 a little harder to book. That鈥檚 the direction we鈥檙e going.鈥�
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Booked appointments now available for anyone 48 and over in Saskatchewan. That is scheduled to be lowered to 44 and over this Thursday, April 22, and to 40 and over next Wednesday, April 27.
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Walk-in clinic this Wednesday
A second walk-in clinic is planned for this Wednesday, April 21 from 2-7 pm at the Mike Schwean Arena lobby in Moosomin.
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Everyone 55 and and over is welcome to attend.
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