Premier Jason Kenney announced the expansion of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout at Alberta pharmacies on Thursday (Photo: Government of Alberta livestream)

By Shaun Penner

Vaccine Rollout

Alberta expands number of pharmacies administering COVID-19 vaccines

Mar 18, 2021 | 12:47 PM

The province says the number of pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments has more than doubled since March 1, growing to 259 pharmacies in 107 communities, including several in the Peace Region.

Premier Jason Kenney made the announcement of the expansion of the province’s vaccine rollout through Alberta pharmacies Thursday, saying that more than 35,000 doses of vaccine have been administered at pharmacies in Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton to date.

“Thousands of Albertans are getting immunized at pharmacies every day, and that number will rise sharply in the weeks ahead,” said Kenney.

Eligible Albertans can book appointments to receive their vaccine by calling participating pharmacies or through their online booking systems. Alberta Health Services will also continue to book appointments online and by calling 811.

The list of participating pharmacies as of March 18 can be found at the Alberta Blue Cross website. The list of pharmacies offering vaccine appointments in the Peace Country, as of Thursday afternoon, can also be found below:

Grande Prairie:

• South 40 Shoppers Drug Mart
• Prairie Mall Shoppers Drug Mart
• Save On Foods Pharmacy
• Real Canadian Superstore Pharmacy

Beaverlodge:

• Mint Health + Drugs

Sexsmith:

• Sexsmith Pharmacy

Valleyview:

• Pharmasave

Fox Creek:

• Rexall

Spirit River:

• Rexall

Fairview:

• Pharmasave

Falher:

• Falher I.D.A Pharmacy

Peace River:

• Peace River Value Drug Mart

High Prairie:

• RX Drug Mart

Health Minister Tyler Shandro says more pharmacies will also begin administering the vaccine in the future.

“We encourage you to check back often,” said Shandro. “The list will be updated frequently as more and more pharmacies throughout the province are enrolled in the program.”

Kenney said more than 66,000 doses will likely be delivered at Alberta pharmacies this week alone.

“We’re working to bring even more pharmacies on board,” he said.

“We expect more than 500 locations will be booking appointments across Alberta by early next month – early April.”

Kenney added, though, that the provincial government continues to be “let down” by the vaccine distribution from Ottawa.

“We’ve now learned that this week’s shipment of Moderna vaccines will actually be split over two separate weeks, effectively cutting shipments in half,” he said.

“This is entirely the responsibility of the federal government and they have not given us an explanation.”

Kenney said the more vaccines the province has, the faster they can be administered to Albertans. He’s implored the federal government to “keep its word” and deliver the doses they have confirmed.

“If, and this is a pretty big if, we get the vaccine supplies we’ve been promised, we’ll eventually be able to expand the immunization program across the province to include over 1,300 pharmacies.”

Booking a vaccine at pharmacies is available to any Albertan born in 1956 or earlier, as well as First Nations, Metis and Inuit people born in 1971 or earlier.