Alberta adds more vaccination capacity
Alberta has now administered nearly 750,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As the province reversed back to Step 1 of its reopening plan because of surging daily COVID-19 case numbers, Alberta is pushing forward with its vaccination plans.
The province opened up Phase 2B vaccinations Wednesday. That includes any Albertan over the age of 16 with an underlying health condition can book an appointment.
Albertans between the age of 55-64 are now eligible to receive the Astra-Zeneca vaccine. The premier said the province received about 1750,000 doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine last Thursday from the federal government.
There is also a plan in place to add more rapid flow mass vaccination centres across the province, similar to what has been set up at Westerner Park in Red Deer.
Kenney adds new COVID-19 restrictions, Alberta surpasses 2,000 COVID-19 deaths
Kenney added in his announcement Tuesday that the province plans on opening walk-in COVID-19 vaccine appointments to pharmacies in the coming weeks.
“These are three big steps forward for Alberta’s vaccination rollout and there is no question vaccination is our ticket out of this,” Kenney said.
“Widespread vaccination is the finish line we all need to head for.”
The premier added in his speech that by the end of May, officials expect as many as half of Alberta’s population will either have one dose of the vaccine or natural immunity to the virus. He said that number should be 64 per cent by the end of June.
“Until then our collective efforts will determine how fast this latest and last wave crests. We were getting carried up by this wave against our will, but we determine how we land,” Kenney said.
Alberta has administered 734,403 doses of the vaccine and 123,090 people are fully vaccinated in the province.
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