February 4, 2021

By Regan Tate

Alberta’s Top Doctor warns of vaccine scam

Feb 4, 2021 | 4:12 PM

Medicine Hat, AB–Alberta’s Chief Medical Health Officer is warning about a vaccine scam currently making the rounds in our province. Some seniors over the age of 75 have received phones calls advising they can book their COVID 19 immunization for a fee. “This is not a legitimate claim, this is a scam,” Hinshaw stated.

Right now there is a vaccine shortage so AHS is not able to offer the vaccine to seniors just yet. When the vaccine is available it will be free of charge. “Neither AHS nor any other community provider will ever be asking for payment for the vaccine.” Hinshaw says anyone who receives these calls should contact their local police.

11 new cases of the variant have been identified bringing the total to 68. All 11 of these cases are from the strain first identified in the United Kingdom. 7 of these new cases have no known link to travel. Two of these cases are travel related and have resulted in two more schools in the Calgary zone being potentially exposed to the variant. Three classrooms from two Calgary schools are already in isolation after a student went to school while infectious. Doctor Hinshaw says so far there has been no spread of the virus among staff and students already in isolation despite enhanced testing. “We are actively reviewing the literature and experience around the globe to assess if additional measures are needed in schools and other settings in the weeks ahead. Evidence is still emerging but we are watching closely. If we need to make changes we will do so.”

Daily numbers for today are higher because 6,000 lab tests were not included in Wednesday’s numbers due to a technical error that has since been corrected. 582 new cases have been identified, 421 of those in the last 24 hours. Our provincial positivity rate sits around 3.6 percent.

Hospitalizations continue to decrease; currently there are 517 people in hospital, 93 in the ICU. Sadly, 13 additional deaths were reported.

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In Medicine Hat, there are 10 active cases, 503 recoveries, and 14 recorded deaths attributed to COVID-19.

Cypress County currently has 2 active cases and 143 recoveries.

In Newell County, there are 3 active cases, 152 recoveries and two deaths.

The city of Brooks has 2 active case, 1,347 recoveries, and 14 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

Lethbridge County has 20 active cases, 489 recoveries, and seven deaths.

The city of Lethbridge has 147 active cases, 1594 ecoveries, and 12 deaths.

112,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Alberta. As of Thursday, 21,700 thousand Albertans have been full vaccinated meaning they have received 2 doses of the vaccine.

Hinshaw’s next update will be on Monday, February 8th

Today’s full update is available here: