Phase 1B will commence Friday, February 19 (Courtesy: Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

Vaccine Rollout

Alberta unveils next steps for COVID-19 vaccination, including Phase 2

Feb 19, 2021 | 1:28 PM

The province is now able to move forward with its vaccination plan, Premier Jason Kenney says, while he also detailed the province’s plans for phase two of the rollout.

Kenney announced Friday afternoon Phase 1B of the rollout will commence Friday, which means that Albertans aged 75 and older living in retirement centres, seniors lodges and all other congregate or supportive living facilities will begin to receive their vaccinations.

All other seniors 75 and older can begin to book their appointments starting on Wednesday, Feb. 24. A link to book will be available on the province’s website

“This is an exciting day for these Albertans, and the thousands of family members and friends who love them,” said Kenney.

“We are starting with those most at risk and moving quickly to provide the protection that they deserve.”

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Meanwhile, Kenney also detailed the staged plan for Phase 2 of the rollout in Alberta, which the province says will see 1.79 million Albertans get immunized.

The order of how groups are prioritized in Phase 2, which depending on vaccine supply is slated to begin in April, are detailed below:

• Group A:
  • Albertans aged 65 to 74, no matter where they live.
  • First Nations and Métis people aged 50 to 64, on and off reserve or Metis Settlements.
  • Staff of licensed supportive living facilities not included in Phase 1.
• Group B:
  • Albertans aged 18 to 64 with high-risk underlying health conditions. Additional information on specific conditions will be provided prior to Phase 2 rollout.
• Group C:
  • Residents and staff of eligible congregate living settings. This includes correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and group homes, including disability, mental health and other types of licensed supportive living.
  • Health-care workers providing direct and acute patient care who have a high potential for spread to high-risk individuals.
  • Caregivers of Albertans who are most at risk of severe outcomes.
• Group D:
  • Albertans aged 50 to 64, no matter where they live.
  • First Nations and Métis people aged 35 to 49 on and off reserve or Metis Settlements.

“Our province is ready to get vaccines into the arms of Albertans as quickly as possible,” said Kenney. “However, this relies on Alberta getting the right supply of vaccines from Ottawa, on time. We need the federal government to end the delays so we can get the job done.”

Detailed information on how eligible Albertans will receive the vaccine will be released prior to each step in Phase 2.

As of Wednesday, Feb. 17, the province says AHS had administered 155,532 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with 58,674 Albertans having received two doses, meaning they are fully immunized.

Those immunized came in Phase 1A of the rollout, which included residents long-term care and designated supportive living facilities. Kenney says all residents in those settings have received two doses of the vaccine.