168 people show up for Day 1 of first dose vaccine blitz at Edmonton EXPO Centre
Wednesday was the first day of an Alberta Health Service's (AHS) initiative meant to rally Edmontonians who have yet to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine doses.
As Alberta closes in on its goal to distribute first doses to 70 per cent of its population, the province has slipped down to tenth place in the country for first shots received.
Government of Alberta statistics show as of Tuesday 67.2 per cent of Albertans over 12 years old have received a first dose. https://www.alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm#immunizations
Now, a new push from AHS will allow anyone aged 12 or older who hasn't received their first shot to show up to the EXPO Centre, from Wednesday to Friday, to get a dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
According to one AHS official, with roughly 30 vaccinations every hour, so far the so-called vaccine blitz is going well.
"If we do 30 an hour it's probably 250 people for the day," Selene Tash, executive director for AHS community health services, told CTV News Edmonton from outside the EXPO Centre. "That's 250 more people immunized with their first doses."
"We were preparing for 100 to 200 walk-ins for the day, so we’ve got the staffing and we can accommodate it," added Tash.
According to AHS,168 people showed up for the first day of its vaccine blitz.
Tash says while the Edmonton EXPO Centre is capable of accommodating up to 6,000 vaccinations a day, that's not happening right now.
"We're doing one to 2,000 immunizations here today," she said.
That number includes people with appointments for second doses.
The AHS official said she expects there may be other vaccine blitzes to come.
"I think it's gone really well," said Tash. "From a walk-in point of view, we're always looking at the best way to get Albertans out."
WHY THE WAIT?
CTV News Edmonton spoke with people showing up for their first doses on Wednesday, and found there were a variety of reasons they had waited.
"I was undecided," said Josephine Kasasa.
Some may have been giving in to peer pressure after being originally unsure.
"My fiance got the vaccine, he's doing OK, so that changed my mind," said Haja Kamara, "and a few friends also got the vaccine so that changed my mind too."
"All my colleagues have had it. I feel that I should have it too so that I will be able to protect myself and others."
One man said he'd had trouble with the online booking system.
"Registered at some shop or grocery store, and then I haven't heard nothing," Andre Audette said. "I checked the computer, my email, nobody calls, no nothing."
According to AHS, the pace of first dose distribution has slowed over the past week, a trend that includes Edmonton.
"I think we're pretty comparable," said Tash, "and we certainly work together across the province to make sure that Albertans - where they want to get immunized, they're able to get immunized."
Right now, the following 20 Alberta communities are also offering a walk-in option:
- Brooks
- Calgary
- Camrose
- Drayton Valley
- Drumheller
- Edmonton
- Fort Macleod
- Fort McMurray
- Grande Prairie
- High Level
- Lethbridge
- Magrath
- Medicine Hat
- Raymond
- Red Deer
- Rocky Mountain House
- Stettler
- Taber
- Vegreville
- Wainwright
Full details on locations, dates and times for the walk-in vaccinations are available online.
The AHS vaccine blitz continues at the EXPO Centre on Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., then again on Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.