Even more Albertans will be able to sign up to get their COVID-19 vaccine starting Tuesday. The government is expanding the vaccine rollout to Phase 2B, which means close to one million people with underlying health conditions are eligible to book a shot.
Albertans born in or before 1963 with eligible underlying conditions can book appointments through participating pharmacies as of March 30th. Starting next Monday, April 5th, Alberta Health Services will then start booking eligible folks born in or before 1959.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro says the province continues to ramp up its vaccinations as more supply comes online. By the end of Phase 2B, all Albertans born in 2005 or earlier, ages 16 and up, with any of the following high-risk health conditions associated with a higher risk of death or hospitalization from COVID-19 will be able to receive the vaccine:
- A missing spleen or a spleen that is no longer working
- Cancer
- Chronic heart disease and vascular disease
- Chronic kidney diseases requiring regular medical monitoring or treatment
- Chronic liver disease due to any cause
- Chronic neurological disease
- Chronic respiratory (lung) diseases
- Diabetes requiring insulin or other anti-diabetic medication to control
- A weakened immune response due to disease or treatment
- Anyone who is currently pregnant
- Severe mental illness or substance use disorder requiring a hospital stay during the past year
- Severe obesity
- Severe or profound learning disabilities or severe developmental delay
- Solid organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients
More specific information on each underlying health condition, including examples, is available at alberta.ca. The government says that a doctor’s note or other proof of your condition is not required to get the vaccine in Phase 2B.
To reduce delays and help appointments be booked quickly, Phase 2B will follow a staggered approach. On March 30, Albertans born from 1957 to 1963 with underlying health conditions can book an appointment at participating pharmacies in Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer. Additional pharmacies will offer bookings starting the week of April 5th as more doses arrive.
Starting April 5th, all eligible Albertans born in 1957, 1958, and 1959 will also be able to book appointments with AHS online or through 811.
