Point in history. Muriel Sheldon receives her Pfizer vaccination from LPN Charmaine McKnight at Herb Bassett long term care home on Jan.7, 2021.(submitted photo/SHA)

By Glenn Hicks

COVID-19

New vaccine booking system takes off but over 70s still waiting

Mar 11, 2021 | 6:00 PM

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will be hoping confusion about how to get a COVID vaccine appointment will end with their special online and phone number system that got underway Thursday.

However, there may still be some frustration for those independent-living seniors aged 70 and over – and who are part of the Phase 1 rollout – who’ve endured some mixed messaging in recent months. That’s because the wait times for the new phone line are long.

To highlight the way the appointment process has changed, things have transpired quite differently for two Prince Albert seniors, both in their 70s, who had previously reflected their frustrations about how to get a vaccine appointment.

For Morris Morton, 72, he appears to be one of the last seniors who received a phone call from SHA offering him an appointment. SHA has since ended that practice.

“Yes, I’m happy about that. I got the call about five days ago,” he told paNOW. “I’ll be getting my vaccination on Saturday, and like most people, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Morton said he felt the process of getting a phone call worked well.

“They get hold of us, we wait, and no time is wasted. We’re not phoning them five times a week trying to find out what’s happening.”

However, while Morton gets his jab on Saturday, others like Norm Vetter, 70, will have to keep waiting. He wasn’t sure if SHA even had his updated phone number, but that’s irrelevant now because the SHA calls have been replaced by the online and phone-in system.

“You’re led to believe your age group is going to be called and then you’re not. The stories are all over the map,” he said.

But Vetter admitted he was encouraged the new system no longer requires him to wait by the phone for a call that never comes, and added the authorities are trying to do the best they can.

“I’m not going to get too upset about things,” he said.

SHA said Wednesday they had moved to their new process to “ensure a positive experience for everyone and better align demand with vaccine supply.”

And, despite the long wait times for the public on Day 1 of the new system rollout on Thursday, SHA reported the launch had been a success; so much so that the booking eligibility is to be expanded to include Saskatchewan residents ages 80 and over as of Friday, March 12 at 8 a.m.

As of 2 p.m. Thursday SHA reported 2,898 or 76 per cent of appointments were made on-line, while 938 or 24 per cent of appointments have been booked through the phone line.

The average wait time on the phone was about 126 minutes either on the line, or for those waiting for a call-back.

The new booking system is as follows and requires the use of your health card:

24/7 online – www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine

Or call – 1-833-SASKVAX (1-833-727-5289) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.

–

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow