WALK-IN VACCINE CLINICS
Shots offered to those aged 55-64
Alberta Health Services will open two walk-in clinics administrating the Astrazeneca vaccine in Calgary and Edmonton on Saturday, allowing those 55 to 64 years old, regardless of where they live, to receive immunization against the COVID-19 virus.
The Calgary clinic, at 10301 Southport Lane S.W., will initially operate until next Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Albertans eligible for the Astrazeneca vaccine can also book appointments at one of 710 pharmacies across the province.
Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said walk-in vaccinations are available at 26 pharmacies in Calgary and Edmonton for those aged 55 to 64.
Hinshaw strongly urged those eligible for their first shot to take advantage of one of those options, touting the effectiveness of the vaccine and clarifying that risks associated with Astrazeneca are low.
She said Thursday that Astrazeneca's first dose reduces COVID-19 infection by 60 to 70 per cent and lowers hospitalizations by 80 per cent, including for the variant strain of the virus first identified in the U.K.
“Like any medication or therapy that has benefits, there are also some risks,” she said, adding that vaccine-induced blood clots are “rare” and “treatable.”
In the U.K, where around 20.2 million doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine were administered by the end of March, just 79 blood clotting events were reported in that time frame.
So far, there has been one confirmed case of blood clots in Canada and none in Alberta.
For those in the eligible age group, “the risks of serious harm from COVID infection are much greater than the risk of this rare outcome,” said Hinshaw. “For anyone infected with COVID -19, they are much more likely to experience a blood clot from COVID. About one-in-four people hospitalized with COVID get blood clots.”
Hinshaw said Alberta doesn't yet have enough vaccines for everyone in the population.
“Those who would otherwise have to wait a month or more for Moderna or Pfizer vaccine can choose protection now, instead of no protection, while our transmission rates rise,” said Alberta's top doctor.
“While not getting vaccinated may feel like a way to protect your health by avoiding the rare risk of a blood clot following vaccine, waiting can actually increase your risk of getting sick or worse. It's also important to remember that in the general population, blood clots happen more than many people realize.”
Earlier in the day, the province confirmed the second death of an Alberta doctor from COVID-19. Lethbridge psychiatrist Dr. Wayne John Edwards was also the seventh health-care worker across the province to die from the illness (See related story).
The province reported five more deaths related to COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing Alberta's pandemic fatality toll to 2,034 since March 2020.
There were also 1,646 more COVID-19 cases detected from 17,198 tests, for a 9.6 per cent positivity rate.
Alberta had 8,682 active variant cases of COVID -19 as of Thursday, representing about 53.5 per cent of its 16,223 total active COVID-19 cases.
Around 45 per cent of all active cases in the province were in AHS' Calgary zone.
There were 416 Albertans infected by COVID-19 in hospital on Thursday, including 86 patients receiving treatment in intensive-care units.
MAYOR GETS HIS SHOT
Mayor Naheed Nenshi received his first dose of vaccine Thursday afternoon at the rapid flowthrough clinic hosted at the downtown Telus Convention Centre.
“I want to encourage everyone to get their vaccine as soon as they're able,” the mayor told reporters afterward.
“This week and this weekend, let's have a huge blitz. Let's clear up some of the vaccine supply that we've got.”
Nenshi stressed that “it doesn't matter which one you get.”
“When we get our flu shots, we don't think `who made this?'” he said. “The best vaccine is the one in your arm.”
Earlier in the week, provincial officials announced a shift to athome learning for junior and senior high students in Calgary starting Monday, which will last at least two weeks.
Hinshaw said all extracurricular youth sport, recreation and performance activities in Calgary will be required to either pause or take place outdoors during that same period.
“We know this may be disruptive to families, however, by shifting these activities outdoors, they can continue in a lower-risk setting,” she said.
“We are seeing a sharp rise in cases among younger Albertans in this third wave along with all other age groups. While a change to move older students online in Calgary was an operational decision, I support it.”
Nenshi acknowledged the move would be “hugely frustrating” for parents.
“One of the challenges that we have here in Calgary is we have a real problem with spread among younger people,” he said.
“I'm in favour of the high schools going back online for a few weeks ... It's just a matter of being careful.”
Hinshaw also announced Thursday that AHS will implement a program “within the next few weeks” to immunize long-stay patients in acute-care facilities across the province.
Eligible patients will be able to receive their COVID-19 immunization while in hospital. Eligibility will be based on a variety of factors, including the provincial rollout plan, length of stay in acute care and the patient's medical condition.
Both Hinshaw and Premier Jason Kenney have alluded to the possibility of more stringent measures to curb spread of COVID -19 if the current level of restrictions doesn't lead to fewer cases in the near future.
Hinshaw called it a “reasonable question” to wonder why the province hasn't taken that step already.
“Decisions around COVID-19 are complex, but there are many implications of those decisions,” she said.
“It does sometimes take time to work through those considerations. I think what I would say, independent of whatever decisions are made in the coming days and weeks about what additional restrictions may be in place, that it's very clear that our numbers are rising, our hospitalizations are rising, our ICU admissions are rising.”