By rdnewsNOW staff

Alberta pausing COVID-19 first dose appo

Alberta pausing COVID-19 first dose appointments with supply set to run out

Jan 18, 2021 | 9:54 AM

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the province will run out of COVID-19 vaccine intended to be used in the first of two doses by the end of the day or early tomorrow.

He says that’s because of a disruption in the supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech product.

The federal government announced last week that the company’s plan to expand its production in Europe will lead to delays in vaccine shipments.

Kenney says Alberta Health Services will no longer take appointments for first shots of the vaccine and will reschedule some that have already been made.

Below is the full statement released Monday by Kenney regarding vaccine supply:

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

14h ago

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

19h ago

eyes up

Air Spray training around Red Deer Regional Airport

19h ago

“Alberta Health Services has administered nearly 90,000 doses to eligible health-care workers and staff and residents in continuing care around the province to date. We continue to lead the large provinces in the pace of COVID-19 vaccination. This is positive news.

“I am also pleased to report that first dose vaccinations have wrapped up at all 357 long-term care and designated supported living facilities in the province.

“However, due to the unexpected supply disruption the federal government announced last week, Alberta will have no more vaccine doses available to administer as first doses by the end of today or early tomorrow.

“Accordingly, no more new first dose appointments will be accepted and some first dose appointments already booked will be rescheduled over the coming days to accommodate limited supply. Doses have been allocated to ensure second doses are available for committed appointments.

“As I have stated several times since our vaccine rollout started, our ability to get needed vaccine in the arms of Albertans is limited by the number of vaccine doses we have on hand. It is frustrating to see this happen while other countries, like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel have received significantly larger quantities of vaccines.

“I am deeply disappointed at the situation we are now facing. The news on January 15 that Pfizer shipments would be cut by 20 to 80 per cent over the coming weeks only adds to our frustration and means we have had to significantly slow down our vaccination plan.

“Alberta currently has the capacity to deliver 50,000 doses per week. In March, we expect to be able to administer about 200,000 doses per week. But we do not have the supply to match. Unfortunately, this means that the planned vaccination of First Nations and Métis individuals and seniors over age 75 has been put on hold.

“I want to assure Albertans that despite this setback, we remain in position to immediately ramp-up and get back to record vaccination numbers once sufficient doses are delivered. We remain undeterred in our efforts to get vaccines to those who need them most.”