All adult Albertans will soon have the option of curling up to get a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Alberta is expanding access to second booster doses, the province announced Tuesday.
Starting Wednesday, Albertans 18 and older can book appointments for a second booster dose of the mRNA vaccine, five or more months after receiving their first booster dose.
Alberta residents can book online through Alberta’s vaccine reservation system or by calling 811. Face-to-face appointments will also be available at selected pharmacies, the province said in a press release.
Albertans who received a dose of the Janssen vaccine at least two months ago are also eligible for a booster dose.
However, due to limited supply, Janssen appointments can only be booked by calling 811.
Expanding the availability of booster doses will give Albertans at risk more options to increase their protection during a period of increased community transmission, Health Minister Jason Copping said in a statement.
The number of hospitalizations has been declining, but transmission remains high.
The subvariant Omicron BA.5, the dominant strain in the province, is fueling a summer surge in cases across the country.
“As we continue to live with COVID, vaccines remain critical to reducing the risk of serious outcomes and protecting our healthcare system,” Copping said.
“Alberta residents are encouraged to continue to obtain their first reinforcement and to consider their unique circumstances when making decisions about the second reinforcement.”
Alberta residents should wait at least three months after COVID-19 infection before receiving a booster dose, the province said.
Previously, access to fourth doses in Alberta was restricted to selected groups, including seniors over the age of 70 or seniors living in congregated care, First Nations, Métis and Inuit, and Albertans with certain health conditions. immunodepressants.
More than 8.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta.
The number of deaths in the province from the disease is 4,632.
As of July 13, there were 552 people hospitalized with COVID-19, including 16 patients in intensive care.
According to last week’s update, the average Alberta PCR positivity rate over the past seven days was 18.31%.
The province reported 1,361 new cases of COVID-19 during the week through July 11, although that number only includes those who test positive on a PCR test, not the results of the rapid tests.