Hinshaw says all Albertans who want the COVID-19 vaccine will get first dose in the next four months

The health minister said a dedicated phone number for COVID booking and more staff and scalable servers for the online traffic are other improvements made in the past week.

Staff and residents in seniors’ supportive living facilities not already immunized will also be able to book appointments on the first day of Phase 2A, said Shandro.

Appointments will be booked through the online booking tool, HealthLink 811 and participating pharmacies.

“Widespread vaccination will help more Albertans get back to normal life sooner,” Shandro said.

First Nations, Inuit and Metis people 50 years and older will also be eligible for the vaccines starting the week of March 15. Those living on reserve can book through First Nations and Inuit Health and local health centres, those off-reserve will book through pharmacies or online.

Shandro said details are being finalized and that exact start times will be announced the week of March 15 with immunizations to begin the next day at the latest.

He also announced that Alberta will soon be offering the first 58,500 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to eligible Albertans.

Following the recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, it will only be offered to healthy adults under age 64.

Bookings can start on March 10. Shandro said Albertans can book an appointment for AstraZeneca vaccine or can wait for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines in phase 2D begins in early May.

Bookings will be staggered, starting with people born in 1957. Those born in later years, 1958-71 will be offered the chance to book in the following days as long as the supply is available.

The AstraZeneca vaccine will not be used in congregate living settings like seniors housing, as it seems not to prevent asymptomatic spread, said Shandro.

There are 18 active cases of COVID-19 in Medicine Hat on Thursday.

The city now has had 557 total cases – the 18 active, 522 recovered and there have been 17 deaths.

There are no new cases in the city today and two new recoveries.

Across the province, there are 4,613 active cases, down 36 from Wednesday, and 128,261 recovered cases, up 358.

Alberta’s total number of COVID-19 cases from the start of the pandemic is 134,785.

There have been 541 variant cases identified in the province, 33 new today.

There are 331 total new cases in the province today.

There are now 245 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 47 of which are in ICU, and 1,911 deaths.

The province completed 9,483 tests in the past 24 hours.

The provincial positivity rate is 3.6 per cent.

Alberta has delivered 266,231 doses of vaccine.

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health said the expansion of the immunization campaign is great news.

“Within the next four months, all Albertans who want to be vaccinated will receive their first dose. And by this fall they will be protected with two doses,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

“This will make a world of difference in our ongoing battle with COVID-19.”

She strongly recommended all Albertans get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible.

“Widespread immunization will help us all return to a more normal way of life more quickly. Choosing to be immunized is one of the most important actions we can take for ourselves and our communities.”

She also pointed out that Friday, March 5 will mark one year since the first case of COVID-19 identified in Alberta.

Hinshaw’s next update will be Monday 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 6,612 cases in the South Zone. There are 326 active cases and 6,194 recovered. The death total in the zone is at 92.

An AHS spokesperson told CHAT News on Thursday that AHS South Zone currently has 31 COVID-19 positive individuals in hospital. There are three at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, with one of those in the ICU. Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge has 25 inpatients, with six of those in the ICU. The Cardston Health Centre has three 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 2,199 cases. There are 223 active cases, 1,956 recovered and there have been 20 deaths. Lethbridge County has 549 cases, 16 active cases, 526 recovered and there have been seven deaths.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day March 3, 2021.”

Read the full March 4 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan has a total of 29,220 cases, 1,422 considered active. There are 27,407 recovered cases and there have been 391 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

Saskatchewan has delivered 84,090 doses of vaccine.

by Chris Brown

Hinshaw says all Albertans who want the COVID-19 vaccine will get first dose in the next four months

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