Alberta expands COVID-19 vaccine booster eligibility to all adults in stages
Alberta will begin to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to all adults in phases, the province announced Wednesday afternoon when it reported two more Omicron cases.
Albertans 60 years of age and older will be eligible for third doses starting on Monday, Dec. 6.
Booster shots will be administered to people who had their second dose at least six months ago.
"We're offering third doses to older people first, as we did with first and second doses, because older people are at increased risk of severe outcomes for COVID-19," Health Minister Jason Copping said.
"The current evidence supports expanding booster doses to add an additional layer of protection," Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw added.
Currently, third doses are available for people who are immunocompromised, 70 years of age or older, residents of seniors' supportive living, health-care workers, and First Nations, Metis and Inuit.
Appointments for the 60+ group open on Thursday online.
"We anticipate that bookings for all adults aged 18 and over will be open by early next year but the exact timing will depend on the volume of appointments booked and the availability of vaccine supply."
Nearly 400,000 Albertans have received a third COVID-19 vaccine dose.
MORE OMICRON CASES
Alberta identified two more cases of the Omicron variant increasing the total to three, Hinshaw said.
The positive tests are in a returning traveller from South Africa and the Netherlands and a household contact.
The two people have mild symptoms and are isolating at home, Hinshaw said.
Also Wednesday, the province reported that an Albertan in their 20s has died due to COVID-19 for a second straight day.
The death is the 18th in a person under 30. A total of 3,255 Albertans have died due to COVID-19.
The province also reported 430 new cases Wednesday, the first time it’s recorded more than 400 new cases since last Wednesday.
- Infographics: COVID-19 in Alberta by the numbers
- COVID-19 in your community: Edmonton’s coronavirus status in numbers
There are now 424 COVID-19 patients in Alberta hospitals, including 79 in intensive care units.
Last week, the first doses of vaccine were administered to young Albertans between the ages of five and 11 years old.
More than three-quarters of all Albertans, 76.3 per cent, have had at least a first dose of vaccine. And, 71.5 per cent of the entire population have had a second shot.
More than 378,000 additional doses have also been administered, and over 33,000 children aged between five and 11 have now had a first shot.
On Monday, the province adjusted its population counts for ages and geographic regions, meaning vaccination percentages decreased then before rising yesterday and Wednesday.
Unvaccinated Albertans remain significantly more likely to suffer a severe outcome after contracting COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
Alberta’s next data update is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered
The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.