Alberta extending second-dose immunization timelines with third vaccine on the way: Hinshaw

Those who have second-dose appointments already booked will have theirs go ahead as scheduled. Anyone who books their appointment before March 10 will still be able to book a second appointment within their 42-day window.

Those who book on or after March 10 will only be able to book a first appointment. Later they will receive a reminder to book their second appointment.

“This change will significantly increase how quickly we can offer Albertans the protection of their first dose,” the chief medical officer of health said. “The more people that we can offer this protection to in the coming weeks and months, the more effective we will be at stopping spread.”

Hinshaw said evidence on COVID-19 is constantly evolving and it is critical the most-up-to-date information is used as the approach to fighting the virus is refined.

She said research from other jurisdictions has shown one dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine offers a huge boost in immunity. Canadian data indicates 80 per cent protection against infection after the first dose.

Second doses in the 16-week window is best for long-lasting protection.

There are 20 active cases of COVID-19 in Medicine Hat on Wednesday.

The city now has had 557 total cases – the 20 active, 520 recovered and there have been 17 deaths.

There is one new case in the city today and one new recovery.

Across the province, there are 4,649 active cases, up 18 from Tuesday, and 127,903 recovered cases, up 372.

Alberta’s total number of COVID-19 cases from the start of the pandemic is 134,454.

There have been 508 variant cases identified in the province, 16 new today.

There are 402 total new cases in the province today.

There are now 251 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 48 of which are in ICU, and 1,902 deaths.

The province completed 10,362 tests in the past 24 hours.

The provincial positivity rate is 3.9 per cent.

Alberta has delivered 255,283 doses of vaccine.

Hinshaw said first shipments of the AstraZeneca vaccine approved last week by Health Canada are expected to arrive in Alberta next week. The AstraZeneca vaccine will give Alberta three safe, effective vaccines, Hinshaw said.

She did not have details on how many doses would arrive and an update on distribution will be provided as soon as possible.

“What’s clear is that all three of these vaccines reduce the risk of getting COVID-19 and prevent serious outcomes including hospitalization and death.”

She said the first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine to Alberta will be relatively small with only 500,000 doses available Canada-wide. Of those, she says her understanding is 300,000 of those doses have an expiry date of April 2, giving the province three weeks to use any of those particular doses that come to Alberta.

Hinshaw revealed the first outbreak of the COVID-19 variant in a continuing care centre in the province in Edmonton. The outbreak was identified last Friday and 27 staff and residents have since tested positive.

Hinshaw’s next update will be Thursday afternoon.

An outbreak is listed on the provincial website at the Valleyview long-term care facility in Medicine Hat. The outbreak was opened on Feb. 12. It’s the only local outbreak currently listed.

There are 6,589 cases in the South Zone. There are 331 active cases and 6,166 recovered. The death total in the zone is at 92.

An AHS spokesperson told CHAT News on Monday that AHS South Zone currently has 27 COVID-19 positive individuals in hospital. There are four at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, with one of those in the ICU. Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge has 19 inpatients, with eight of those in the ICU. The Cardston Health Centre has four inpatients.

There are no local schools on either “Alert” or “Outbreak” status on the provincial reporting site.

The website Support Our Students is tracking instances of cases in schools across the province.

Cypress County has totaled 145 cases – one active case and the rest recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 117 total cases. There are no active cases, 115 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The MD of Taber has 340 total cases — five active cases, 329 recovered and there have been six deaths.

Special Areas No. 2 has 40 total cases – one active, 38 recovered and there has been one death.

Brooks has 1,362 total cases — one active case and 1,347 are recovered. Brooks has recorded 14 deaths.

The County of Newell has a total of 160 cases — one active case, 157 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The County of Warner has 162 total cases. There are no active cases, 159 are recovered cases and there have been three deaths in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 2,181 cases. There are 218 active cases, 1,943 recovered and there have been 20 deaths. Lethbridge County has 547 cases, 15 active cases, 525 recovered and there have been seven deaths.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day March 2, 2021.”

Read the full March 3 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan has a total of 29,059 cases, 1,431 considered active. There are 27,239 recovered cases and there have been 389 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

Saskatchewan has delivered 81,597 doses of vaccine.

by Chris Brown

Alberta extending second-dose immunization timelines with third vaccine on the way: Hinshaw

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