Doctors call on those eligible to get Astrazeneca vaccine
Edmonton doctors are urging eligible Albertans to get the Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine as the Expo Centre opens for walk-in appointments on Saturday following a week of low turnouts.
The clinic opened this week with an average of just less than 450 visits booked daily between Tuesday and Friday, far below the facility's capacity to book 7,000 appointment a day.
Monday had the highest turnout with 1,632 immunizations completed.
Starting Saturday, Albertans over age 55 can head to the Expo Centre for a walk-in appointment in addition to the current booking options — calling 811, booking online, or visiting a participating pharmacy.
Dr. James Talbot, co-chairman of the strategic COVID-19 committee for the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association, said people who can get the vaccine should do so right away.
The vaccine is safe and very effective in protecting from severe symptoms if infected by COVID-19, like hospitalization or death, said Talbot, who speaks for the independent association representing physicians.
“It takes your immune system 10 to 14 days to build up antibodies to the shot. We're already seeing three of the five (health) zones are at or above the numbers we had at the peak of the second wave. So if you wait, and then you have to wait for your immune system to kick in, that's a problem,” he said Friday.
“This is not the time to sit around wondering whether you should select one vaccine or another, or say I can afford to put it off for another week ... get whatever shot is available.”
Talbot also urged Edmontonians to speak to their loved ones about getting the vaccine and help arrange appointments.
Canada's and Alberta's public health experts have been assuring people of Astrazeneca's safety and efficacy amid concerns over a very rare complication where some developed blood clots in the weeks following vaccination.
As of April 4, the European Medicines Agency had received just 222 reports of blood clots out of 34 million doses administered in Britain and the European Economic Area over three months. Canada has reported only one of these complications, in Quebec.
The Astrazeneca vaccine reduces a person's chance of infection by 60 to 70 per cent, and the risk of hospitalization and death by 80 per cent, according to Alberta Health Services (AHS).
AHS EXPECTED SLOW UPTAKE
Spokesman Kerry Williamson said AHS expected uptake to be slow at the beginning so the Expo site is not yet running at full capacity.
This could change if there is more demand, he said.
Other COVID -19 vaccine brands may be offered next week depending on supply.
Alberta Health spokesman Tom Mcmillan said while Astrazeneca/covidshield vaccines are only available to those 55 and older right now, the Alberta Advisory Committee on Immunization is discussing whether to approve it for younger people following an assessment by Health Canada earlier this week.