As more and more people receive their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines and the province's schedule for vaccinations becomes more and more ambitious, the age of eligibility for vaccines continues to move.

Effective today, anyone 55 years old or older in Saskatchewan can book an appointment for their vaccination. Elsewhere in the province, the age is even lower, as the northern part of the province the age of eligibility is now 50 years old. 

In Regina, the age is a little more specific. In that city, the vaccine drive thru have begun administering Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines this morning. They will be vaccinating residents age 53 and 54 only. It will be on a first-come-first-serve basis from 8:30 in the morning until 11:00 at night and will be at Evraz Place on the Regina Exhibition grounds.

"Shifting vaccines to expand eligible age groups for the Regina drive thru clinic will help in driving down variant of concern transmission in Regina and area," Health Minister Paul Merriman said. "Regular, predictable delivery of all vaccines allows us to make these adjustments and continue to lead the country in putting vaccines in arms, protecting more residents."

The province was due to take the remainder of a delayed shipment of Moderna vaccines yesterday. Also, they announced they had vaccinated 10,437 new people for the highest one-day total of vaccines delivered in the province to date.

"Rapid, mass vaccinations will mean there are different vaccines available at different times, in different parts of the province to support delivery plans," Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said. "All have been approved by Health Canada and all will prevent serious illness and death caused by COVID-19."

There have been 244,646 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Saskatchewan since the first doses came to the province in December.