As of Thursday, about 96,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to Albertans and extra are probably going to have the ability to get their second dose thanks to a different cargo.
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Alberta Well being confirmed the province acquired a cargo of Pfizer vaccine this week. That cargo included 21,450 doses.
“With 96,500 doses of vaccine delivered, 1000’s of probably the most susceptible seniors and health-care employees now have an additional layer of safety,” chief medical officer of well being Dr. Deena Hinshaw mentioned Thursday.
As of Wednesday, Alberta Well being Companies had administered simply 7,003 second doses.
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What to know about 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Alberta as shortages persist
On Monday, after studying of a delay in Pfizer vaccine, Premier Jason Kenney mentioned first dose appointments had been being paused to make sure there was sufficient vaccine out there for dedicated second dose appointments.
On Tuesday, Hinshaw mentioned it appeared like there was sufficient vaccine in hand in addition to what had been dedicated, even with the discount in Pfizer provides, to have the ability to provide that second dose to those that have booked it.
On Thursday, Alberta’s prime physician reiterated the province would do its “utmost” to make sure “that each particular person who’s acquired their first dose does get their second dose inside the 42-day timeline.
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“If not, they’ll proceed to be eligible and can obtain it as quickly as potential after that.”
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Hinshaw mentioned Alberta was working with the federal authorities and different provinces to make use of present allocations “as correctly as potential.”
She added that whereas there are numerous unknowns with the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, well being officers can think about proof from different forms of vaccines.
“We all know that with different vaccines, that when somebody has their first dose, there isn’t a finish date at which era they’re not eligible for a second dose,” Hinshaw mentioned.
“And we all know, typically, with another vaccines, that if there’s a little little bit of an extended interval between first and second dose, the general long-lasting immune response can typically be higher.”
On Thursday, Alberta confirmed a further 678 instances of COVID-19 out of 14,060 checks, placing Alberta’s positivity price at four.eight per cent.
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There have been 726 individuals in hospital and 119 of these individuals had been within the ICU.
“Our positivity price, energetic instances and hospitalizations proceed to say no,” Hinshaw mentioned. “That is excellent news and exhibits restrictions are serving to to forestall extra individuals from being uncovered and getting sick with this virus, and that the overwhelming majority of Albertans are doing their half.
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“We aren’t within the clear simply but,” she mentioned.
“Our instances are falling, however we nonetheless have the second highest energetic case charges per capita in Canada.
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“Whereas our hospitalizations have decreased considerably from the height, they continue to be extraordinarily excessive.”
An extra 16 deaths had been additionally introduced, bringing Alberta’s COVID-19 demise toll to 1,500.
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