The general public of Alberta could receive the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than first thought.
“We should be able to open it up to the general population in the summer around June,” Premier Jason Kenney said in his Facebook Live announcement on January 12. “But it all depends on the supply that we get from the federal government.”
This update comes just a day after the federal government announced that they would be purchasing 20 million additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
“We would expect by the end of the week of March 29 to expect 677, 000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna,” said Kenney in a press conference held on January 12.
Administering the vaccine to the general public was not expected until the fall, in Phase 3. To see it happen during the summer would be well ahead of the current timeline.
“Our pace of inoculation continues to pick up, and there are millions of Albertans waiting their turn,” said Kenney.
Alberta is currently in Phase 1A of the vaccine rollout, with Phase 1B expected to begin in February.
Phase 1A offers immunizations to key populations across the province, as stated on the Government of Alberta website. These key populations include respiratory therapists, home care workers, paramedics, residents of long-term care, and healthcare workers in COVID-19 units, operating rooms, intensive care units, and emergency departments.
Phase 1B will see the immunizations offered to seniors who are 75 years or older, regardless of where they live, as well as First Nations, Métis, and persons 65 years of age and over living in a First Nations community or Metis Settlement.
Timelines for vaccine distribution are subject to change depending on the current supply of the vaccine.
