Route links
- Local news
“We’re concerned that we’re probably seeing a new wave unfolding right now from Omicron’s BA.5 subvariant,” Prime Minister Jason Kenney said Tuesday.
Date of publication:
July 19, 2022 • 1 hour ago • 3 minutes of reading • 14 comments Pharmacist Alison Davison is preparing a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy on 17 Ave. SW in Calgary on March 5, 2021. Photo by Azin Ghaffari / Postmedia
Content of the article
Albertans aged 18 and over can book a fourth vaccine to protect themselves from COVID-19 starting Wednesday.
Announcement 2
This ad has not yet been uploaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
The provincial government announced extended eligibility Tuesday afternoon, following Ontario and BC, where additional reinforcements have also been implemented in recent days.
Adults who received their third vaccine at least five months ago can sign up for reinforcement through the online vaccine reservation system, by calling 811 or checking the availability of a local pharmacy. Until now, the fourth doses were only available to people with certain medical conditions, people 70 years of age or older, and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people 65 years of age or older.
The news comes just hours after Prime Minister Jason Kenney promised an update on the availability of the fourth dose while speaking to the media at an opening event at an Edmonton pharmaceutical distribution center.
Announcement 3
This ad has not yet been uploaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Kenney said the COVID provincial cabinet committee has just received recommendations from the medical director of health and also reviewed the latest guidance from the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NACI).
“We’re concerned that we’re probably seeing a new wave unfolding right now from Omicron’s BA.5 subvariant,” he said.
“But we wanted to wait to receive scientific advice, and that’s just what we reviewed (Monday).”
The highly transmissible Omicron BA.5 variant is currently the most common strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 in Alberta. According to the provincial government’s announcement Tuesday, expanding vaccine availability “will offer at-risk Albertans more options to increase their protection during this period of increased community transmission.”
Announcement 4
This ad has not yet been uploaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
In BC and Ontario, people who may be most at risk for COVID-19 have been encouraged to receive their second booster as soon as possible. In Alberta, the government announcement said the additional injection is “most beneficial” for people at high risk.
“I urge all Albertans who have not yet done so to access their first dose of booster to help reduce the risk of infection and its serious outcomes and to carefully consider their own risk factors when it comes to decide when to get a second booster of the COVID-19 vaccine. “, said the medical director of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, in a statement.
Anyone unsure whether to get their fourth injection in the summer or wait until the fall should consult with a healthcare provider.
Announcement 5
This ad has not yet been uploaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Vaccination remains an effective protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19. But many Albertans have not yet received their first dose of booster, which medical experts have stressed is key to reducing the risk of serious illness.
Just under half of Canadians generally have at least three doses of COVID vaccine, according to Health Canada data. But the Alberta rate is the second lowest in the country, with only 38% of the population. In terms of those over the age of 18, Alberta ranks last, with about 47% of adults covered with three doses.
The latest COVID statistics from the province will not be updated until Wednesday, but as of July 11, 552 people were hospitalized due to the disease, with 16 of these patients in intensive care.
Sewage samples from most of the province have begun to show an increase in the presence of COVID after a period of rugged fall in recent months, and experts have been warning that a seventh wave is in the horizon.
The first “booster” vaccines were widely available to Alberta adults in December, as the province increased the steepness of the first wave of Omicron-driven COVID.
masmith@postmedia.com
@meksmith
Share this article on your social network
Announcement 1
This ad has not yet been uploaded, but your article continues below.
Sign up to receive daily news from the headlines of the Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
By clicking the sign up button, you agree to receive the previous Postmedia Network Inc. newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, check your trash folder.
The next issue of Edmonton Journal Headline News will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered a problem registering you. Please try again
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil discussion forum and encouraging all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments can take up to an hour to moderate before appearing on the site. We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful. We’ve enabled email notifications – you will now receive an email if you receive a response to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you are following, or if a user is still commenting. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.