The Saskatchewan Medical Association wants to see all essential health care workers offered vaccines immediately.

President Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz says many health care workers are seeing a large amount of patients in a day, increasing their risk of exposure.

“People who cannot stay at home, isolate from their families, or isolate, period, are at greater risk of either spreading or contracting the virus.”

While 64 percent of Phase One health care workers have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine, SMA president Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz says community doctors and physicians who see several patients in a day are not considered in Phase One.

“Neither were their staff, so every time you come into a doctor’s office, their front-end staff are health care providers, but were not considered in Phase One,” Dr. Konstantynowicz said. “Not all of the hospital or institution based staff were fully vaccinated either.”

Premier Scott Moe was quoted Wednesday saying they are considering changes to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan. SMA President Dr. Konstantynowicz says she remains optimistic that changes will be made.

“I hope for the best, but like everything (else) we have to advocate for what we believe is the right thing to do.”

Regardless of the COVID vaccine rollout, Dr. Konstantynowicz says Saskatchewan still needs to follow public health orders to prevent the spread, and even mutation, of the virus.