More than 20,000 eligible Albertans have been booked to receive COVID-19 immunization with the Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine, Alberta Health Services has announced.
People have been booking appointments through both the AHS online immunization booking tool and Health Link 811. The first doses of the vaccine were administered Thursday morning.
Currently, all Albertans born in 1957 and 1958, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit people born in 1972 and 1973, are eligible for AstraZeneca.
First Nations, Métis and Inuit people born in 1972 and 1973 are able to book an immunization appointment only by calling 811.
“This is due to the technical constraints of the online booking tool, which at this time cannot be configured to include a cohort of one birth year without allowing every Albertan born in that year access,” AHS said Thursday.
Pending vaccine supply, additional Albertans will be offered a chance to book in the coming days. Further communication will be issued to advise Albertans on their eligibility.
For those who choose not to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, AHS anticipates being able to immunize these individuals using one of the other two vaccine products sometime in May.
The estimated rollout plan for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is available on the Alberta Health website. Timelines are subject to change depending on vaccine supply.
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