Walk-in booking for shots begins at pharmacies
Astrazeneca vaccinations can be set up in-person instead of by phone or online
Eligible Albertans can now walk into some pharmacies in Edmonton and Calgary to book their COVID-19 vaccines instead of booking appointments online or over the phone.
At an announcement Monday, Premier Jason Kenney said select participating pharmacies in the two major cities will be allowing walk-in bookings for eligible Albertans aged 55 to 64 for shots of the Astrazeneca vaccine.
“Over 684,000 Albertans have now received at least one dose of vaccine, helping to protect them from severe outcomes and reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Kenney said.
Tom Mcmillan, a spokesman for Alberta Health, said a few pharmacies in Edmonton and Calgary started walk-in booking Monday, and more will start on Tuesday. The government says Albertans should check the Alberta Blue Cross website for walk-in sites or contact specific locations to learn more about their booking process.
Mcmillan said the information will be online by today.
Monday also marked the first day of rapid flow-through clinics in Edmonton and Calgary.
Edmonton's clinic at the Expo Centre opened to scheduled appointments at 12:30 p.m. Monday.
“Supported by hundreds of health-care workers, both the Calgary and Edmonton clinics will be able to administer up to 1,000 doses per hour and 6,000 per day in each of those two mega clinics,” Kenney said.
“This is a huge addition to our vaccine program.”
Some people in Phase 2C of the province's vaccine rollout plan are also now eligible to book their appointment to get a shot.
As of 8 a.m. Monday health-care workers in patient-care facilities, those who provide services directly to clients in the community, and those on First Nation reserves and Métis settlements could book an appointment.
That includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other health-care professionals and their staff.
It also includes people who work directly with clients for Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health, Alberta Precision Labs, Dynalife, and students undertaking placement practicums.
More groups eligible in Phase 2C will be able to book appointments in the coming weeks, according to the health authority.
The rest of Phase 2C includes residents and staff in places like correctional facilities, homeless shelters, meat-packing plants and group homes as well as front-line policing, provincial sheriffs and caregivers of Albertans who are most at risk of severe outcomes.
Over 684,000 Albertans have now received at least one dose of vaccine, helping to protect them from severe outcomes and reduce the spread of COVID-19.