Alberta expands vaccine rollout to include frontline healthcare workers

Alberta expanded its vaccine rollout on Monday morning to include more than 240,000 frontline healthcare workers who are eligible under Phase 2C.

With this addition, more than 1.7 million Albertans currently qualify to book their COVID-19 immunizations under the province’s vaccine rollout program.

Nurses, doctors, dentists, and any healthcare workers in patient care facilities or providing direct patient care in the community can now begin to schedule their appointment to receive the vaccine.

This expansion of vaccinations will help to prevent COVID-19 from spreading to patients and those at highest risk of severe outcomes.

“I am very pleased to be able to offer COVID-19 vaccines to the thousands of health-care workers and associated staff who have been doing their part to keep Albertans healthy during the pandemic,” said Premier Jason Kenney.

“The more people we are able to immunize, the safer our province will be, and the sooner we will recover.”

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Appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine can be booked at participating pharmacies or through Alberta Health Services (AHS) at 811 or online.

When they arrive to receive their immunization, healthcare workers will be asked to provide proof of eligibility, including personal identification that shows the individual’s birthdate, and proof of employment or professional registration.

A complete list of frontline healthcare workers who can now book their vaccines can be found on the Alberta government’s website.

Due to limited vaccine supply, the rollout of Phase 2C will expand to other groups in the coming weeks, including qualifying residents and support staff at correctional facilities, homeless shelters, meat-packing plants, group homes, and caregivers of those who are most at risk of severe outcome.

Anyone eligible in Phase 1, 2A, or 2B who hasn’t yet received the vaccine can continue to schedule their vaccinations through a participating pharmacy or AHS. Additionally, all Albertans aged 55 to 64 can book appointments to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

As of April 9, 847,630 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in the province, with 163,532 Albertans having received the two doses required to be considered fully immunized.