Here's how effective COVID-19 vaccines have been in Alberta
New numbers from Alberta Health are showing just how effective vaccines have been in Alberta in reducing new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
The data was released Thursday as part of the province's daily COVID-19 update and is measured since Jan. 1.
- Infographics: COVID-19 in Alberta by the numbers
- COVID-19 in Edmonton: Numbers broken down by neighbourhood
The numbers show those most at risk from COVID-19 are either unvaccinated or were diagnosed within two weeks of getting a shot, before the vaccine had time to build up immunity within the body.
"It's clear that vaccines are remarkably effective," Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical officer of health, told reporters Thursday.
"We can expect both the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 to decrease even more as more of the population is protected by first and second doses."
The province's daily new cases, active cases, hospitalizations and deaths have fallen in recent weeks due a combination of public health restrictions and rising vaccination rates.
The new data is measured since Jan. 1, and shows that since then:
- 0.2 per cent of of people with dose were diagnosed two weeks or more after getting a first dose
- 0.1 per cent of of people with dose were diagnosed two weeks or more after getting a second dose
Those who were unvaccinated or diagnosed within two weeks of getting a first dose represented:
- 96 per cent of cases
- 93.4 per cent of hospitalized cases
- 88.4 per cent of deaths
The province lists the partial effective of the Moderna vaccine as 82 per cent with the Pfizer shot listed as 73 per cent. Complete effectiveness for Moderna and Pfizer is listed at 93 per cent and 90 per cent respectively.
Dr. Hinshaw said Thursday the sample size for AstraZeneca shots is too small for proper analysis.
The data also indicates vaccines work well against COVID-19 variants:
- B.1.1.7 U.K./Alpha variant: 73 per cent partial effectiveness, 91 per cent complete effectiveness
- P1 Brazilian/Delta variant: 75 per cent partial effectiveness, 89 per cent complete effectiveness
Vaccine effectiveness measures how well a vaccine prevents infection.
Federal guidelines changed earlier this week to allow mixing and matching of different vaccines.
In Alberta, those who received one of the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines are recommended to get a second mRNA shot from either manufacturer.
Those who received a first shot of AstraZeneca have the choice of getting either a second AstraZeneca or a mRNA vaccine.
In a statement, Alberta Health says that to date, "a majority, but not all, of AstraZeneca first doses have opted to receive an mRNA vaccine for a second dose."
Alberta has administered nearly 2.9 million doses of vaccine as of yesterday.
Alberta lifted a number of public health restrictions that had been in place since early May and entered Stage 1 of its reopening program on Tuesday.
With more than 60 per cent of eligible Albertans having had a first dose as well as fewer than 500 COVID-19 patients in hospital, the province has already met the thresholds for Stage 2 of the reopening plan.
Stage 2 relaxes restrictions on outdoor gatherings, sports, and post-secondary institutions among other changes. It is scheduled to begin June 10, two weeks after the vaccination and hospitalization targets were met.
Stage 3, which lifts almost all restrictions, will begin two weeks after 70 per cent of eligible Albertans have received at least a first dose.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.