ALBERTA - Albertans will be able to get their second COVID-19 vaccine that much sooner after the province announced earlier today they're speeding up second-dose appointments.
To date, more than 2.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, with 63.4 per cent of Albertans 12-years-old and up having received their first dose.
In the Lakeland, approximately 42.5 per cent of Cold Lake residents eligible to be vaccinated have been immunized, that number is at 38.8 per cent for Bonnyville, 42.6 per cent for the Lac La Biche region, and 37.6 per cent for the St. Paul area.
A single dose of the vaccine offers at least 80 per cent protection against "severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death," a press release issued by the province said.
“Every Albertan who has received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be able to book their second dose by the end of the month. This will provide Albertans with even more protection as we get ready to be open for summer and get back to normal. Please do your part by booking your second doses so we can beat COVID-19, once and for all," expressed Premier Jason Kenney in the press release.
Those who received their first shot in or before March can book their second dose as of today, while anyone who got their vaccine in April can start scheduling their second on June 14. Albertans who were immunized in May can look into booking two-weeks later on June 28.
Minister of Health Tyler Shandro stated, “First doses have brought Albertans much-needed relief to our families, our communities and our health system, but two doses are necessary for full protection. We are staggering the second-dose rollout to start with those who received their first dose earliest. Thank you to the AHS workers, pharmacists and physicians who continue to work tirelessly to administer these vaccines and to all Albertans who have chosen to get protected.”
Despite the protection the first dose provides, the province is stressing second doses are needed "to get the best and most long-lasting protection against the virus."
“I strongly urge all Albertans to book their second-dose appointments in the coming weeks and months. It is critical that everyone who has received their first dose shows up for their second. In the meantime, we all need to continue to follow public health measures to keep driving transmission down," expressed Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health.
Over 10 per cent of those eligible in the Province of Alberta are fully vaccinated.
How to get booked
Where possible, Alberta Health Services (AHS) and participating pharmacies that administered your first dose will contact you to let you know it's time to schedule your second shot.
Albertans can also choose to book online through the AHS website, contacting a participating pharmacy, or by calling 811.
According to Tuesday's press release, "While the interval between first and second doses will start at 12 weeks, Alberta will now be able to offer second-dose appointments at progressively earlier intervals, provided vaccine supply remains stable."
For those who were administered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine the interval will be lowered over time to a minimum of three to four weeks.
AstraZeneca's interval will also decrease over time to a minimum recommended length of eight weeks or more. Albertans who received this vaccine in March or earlier can now book a second-dose appointment, while anyone who received it in April or May are being told to wait until eight weeks have passed.
While the province begins the process of scheduling Albertans for their second doses, they continue to encourage residents who have not yet received their first shot to book an appointment as soon as possible.
