Community doctors will soon begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to help more Albertans get their dose as soon as possible.
Alberta Health has been working with the Alberta Medical Association to incorporate community physicians into the vaccine distribution plan as vaccine supply increases.
The first community doctors are expected to begin administering vaccines in their clinics in April.
“Physicians are eager to know that their patients are being protected from COVID-19. Those family physicians who are able to participate – in their own clinics or through the new rapid flow sites – will make a substantial difference and enhance Alberta’s response to the pandemic,” said Dr. Paul Boucher, president of the Alberta Medical Association.
More than 500 expressions of interest have come in from Alberta physicians and stand-alone clinics. So combined, 185 physician clinics containing 1,100 physicians, will create additional capacity for an estimated 14,000 daily doses, as supply allows.
“Albertans look to their family physicians as a trusted primary source of health care. Community physicians who are joining the effort to administer COVID-19 vaccines to everyone who wants one, will offer Albertans additional ways to receive the vaccine and protect themselves against this very real threat to their health,” Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said.
To date, 368,124 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta, with 91,593 people fully immunized with two doses.