COVID update: phase one of vaccination distribution begins in 2021

Premier Jason Kenney joined the December 2nd COVID-19 update to announce the province’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. The province will be receiving effective vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The Premier appointed Municipal Affairs Deputy Minister, Paul Wynnyk to aid and direct the distribution plan.

“Each and every dose of the vaccine an Albertan who needs to be protected and it’s vital to protect not just their health, but their livlihoods as well. My commitment to Albertans is that we will do everything within our control to ensure no Albertan has to wait any longer than absolutely necessary,” said Wynnyk during the update.

The Premier noted that the vaccine will not be mandatory for Albertans. They will be distributed in three phases. 435,000 doses of vaccines are expected to arrive in waves starting January 4th 2021 for phase one.

Phase one of vaccine distribution will include 10 per cent of the population including the following:

Residents of long-term care and designated supported living and staff in those facilities
On-reserve First Nations over the age of 65 and seniors aged 75 and older
Health care workers

Phase two will include 30 per cent of the Alberta population and will begin in April. Priority groups for phase two have not been determined yet.

By the fall of 2021, the vaccine will be offered to the general population of Alberta.. Throughout these phases it will still be important to follow public health guidelines to protect Albertans who have not received the vaccinations yet, or to protect Albertans who have not received both sets of vaccinations.

“The first two vaccines we anticipate receiving both need two doses with the second dose coming three to four weeks after the first. This means that full protection will take time to achieve. Because of this, and because it will take many months to protect all vulnerable Albertans, we must continue to work together over the coming months to keep our numbers down until enough Albertans have received their full series of vaccine to keep COVID under control,” explained Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw.