Most of the healthcare workers and vulnerable people in Saskatchewan have already been offered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Today's data from the Saskatchewan Health Authority shows they can basically close the book on the first part of a plan they unveiled in December. 

According to a release from the provincial government, phase one of Saskatchewan's vaccine rollout is considered completed as of tomorrow. The separate reporting of vaccine statistics for phase one priority people will end and their numbers will shift into general population numbers. 

"Our vaccination program has reached some important milestones," said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. "More than 75 percent of people over the age of 60 have now been vaccinated. More than 50 percent over the age of 40 have also received that first dose."

Data provided by the province shows 79 percent of phase one healthcare workers have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of those, 18,914 or about 47 percent of that group have received both doses of the two-shot vaccine. 

Yesterday, Moe gave a glimpse of what was to come for Saskatchewan in terms of vaccines. By next Wednesday, April 28, everyone in Saskatchewan over the age of 40 will be eligible to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

"Here's why that's important: 84 percent of all hospitalizations and 96 percent of all COVID-related fatalities in our province have been in people over the age of 40," he said. "So by getting this group of people vaccinated first, we will significantly reduce those outcomes. Our age-based system continues to work well."

Today, the province administered 7,554 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. There have now been 365,001 doses administered in total.