Premier Jason Kenney says he will “100 per cent” take a COVID-19 vaccine when available.
“But I will wait my turn in the queue,” Kenney said Thursday, during a live stream with Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health.
“I am 52 and, you can all see I’ve always got to lose some weight, but I’m generally healthy apart from that, so I suspect I’ll be in the general population group when we get to that, more in the late spring or in the summer.
“I will put my name in like any other citizen and be called in whenever that turns up. I’m not going to get any special treatment, no queue jumping, just because of my job.”
Kenney said the provincial government wants to prioritize the people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 – the elderly and frontline health-care workers.
“If you don’t think I’m leading by example, please look to the example of our nurses, doctors and scientists, who are the first in the queue.
“They are the people stepping up because they want to keep their patients safe. They don’t want to unwittingly transmit the virus to their patients who may be elderly and frail.”
Hinshaw said she will also get vaccinated when it’s her turn.
“I will be very happy to take my place once my category is eligible for the vaccine,” she said.
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