Residents continuing to show up for vaccinations
By Lethbridge Herald on April 22, 2021.
On Wednesday, Lethbridge residents got in line to get their shots.Walk-in appointments began yesterday and continuie today between 8:50 a.m. and 3:40 p.m., 200 for the AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine will be available on a first come, first serve each day for eligible Albertans at Exhibition Park in Lethbridge in addition to those already booked.
All Albertans born in 1981 or before, regardless of where they live, can attend to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
According to Alberta Health, AstraZeneca’s first dose reduces the chance of infection by 60-70 per cent hospitalizations by 80 per cent, including against the B.1.1.7 variant.
The vaccine is widely used in the United Kingdom, France and other countries.
Alberta has joined Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia in offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone 40 and older. Saskatchewan announced Tuesday it was doing the same. Quebec said it was lowering the age to 45.
The shot had been limited to those over 55, but Alberta said it lowered the age based on new health data and because thousands of doses were being left unused.
Lowering the eligibility age means 575,425 more Albertans can be vaccinated, bringing the total eligible population to 2.3 million.
The walk-ups continue next week, running Monday to Thursday from 8:50 a.m. To 3:40 p.m.
Appointments are not required for walk-ins, but booking is recommended.
To book an appointment of find a participating pharmacy visit http://www.albertahealthservices.ca and click on the vaccine rollout link.
A total of 1,232,925 doses of all vaccine types have been administered since Tuesday with 244,527 Albertans fully immunized with the two doses.
-with files from Canadian Press 2
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