Update: March 5th, 2021

Lacombe Online newsroom has received unconfirmed reports that the vaccination date has now been pushed back to March 15th.

Original story: March 4th, 2021

Those living at the Lacombe Seniors Lodge continue to wait for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier this week, they were told they would receive it on March 5th but that date has been postponed to March 11th.

“All the other lodges, as far as I know, have received their vaccines. I actually contacted Alberta Health Services (AHS) the day that the vaccine became available for seniors 75 and over because our lodge had not even been scheduled,” said Outi Kite Director of Housing and Lodges with the Bethany Group.

“The only response we have received is that they were not able to secure enough vaccine for the date which was going to be March 5th and so it has been postponed until March 11th. It is completely out of our control,” said Outi Kite Director of Housing and Lodges with the Bethany Group.

A family member of a resident at the lodge who wished to remain anonymous made several phone calls searching for more information on the issue and was eventually told to schedule an appointment for them in Red Deer.

“We've called Stettler and Eckville and every other lodge within the Bethany Care has been done. They are based out of Camrose and they were telling me Alberta Health has gone to seniors buildings in Camrose that aren't even under Alberta Health or the provincial system such as 55 and older buildings that are not really part of this rollout and they do it anyways. But yet, they can't come into the Lacombe Lodge and give them their vaccines. It's just horribly frustrating,” said the family member who hasn’t seen their loved one since October.

They have also tried contacting government officials.

 “I don't know if the province is aware of it, but we've tried so many times to contact like Tyler Shandro and they don't even answer email. It's just one act of frustration after the next.”

Kite says the issue lies in the hands of AHS but staff at the Lacombe Seniors Lodge continues to field questions from residents and concerned family members.  

“Well the residents definitely want to get vaccinated because now we can go and get it done if they book appointment, elsewhere. There has been concern,” said Kite.

 

Sunny94/LacombeOnline has reached out to an AHS media representative for further comment.