Albertans have officially begun receiving the COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccinations have begun in Alberta.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney spoke at a livestreamed press conference on Tuesday afternoon to announced that two healthcare workers, one in Edmonton and one in Calgary, had received the COVID-19 vaccine as of 3:45 pm MST.

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Kenney stated that the first 3,900 doses of the vaccine landed in Alberta on Monday night, were transported to distribution centres, unfrozen, and have begun to be administered.

“The first inoculations have already begun,” he said.

“I understand that the first to receive it, who just received the vaccine moments ago, was respiratory therapist Sahra Kaahiye at Edmonton’s University of Alberta Hospital, and that intensive care nurse Tanya Harvey at the Foothills medical Centre in Calgary is also receiving the vaccine as we speak.”

Sahra Kaahiye, a respiratory therapist in #yeg, is the first Albertan to receive a #COVID19 vaccine. “The availability of a COVID-19 vaccine is great news,” she says. #ShotofHope pic.twitter.com/kup117DE4T

— Alberta Health Services (@AHS_media) December 15, 2020

“The way that we are living right now is not how humanity is meant to exist,” said Harvey in a tweet from Alberta Health Services.

“This is a glimmer of hope for all of Alberta. Please take your responsibility seriously & get your vaccine when your time comes.”

“The way that we are living right now is not how humanity is meant to exist,” says RN Tanya Harvey, first in #YYC to receive the COVID vaccine. “This is a glimmer of hope for all of Alberta. Please take your responsibility seriously & get your vaccine when your time comes.” pic.twitter.com/BLg7WWKLVw

— Alberta Health Services (@AHS_media) December 15, 2020

Kenney also stated that another 25,300 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to be in the province next week, as announced by Minister of Health Tyler Shandro on Monday, while the first shipment of the Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive in Alberta next week as well.

“Hope is here,” Kenney said, “and the end of this terrible time is finally within sight.”