As supplies pile high in Alberta questions are raised around vaccine rollout
Posted April 8, 2021 7:50 pm.
CALGARY (CityNews) – About a quarter of a million doses of COVID-19 vaccine shipped to Alberta have yet to be administered.
The hundreds of thousands of doses sitting idle, now present a challenge for Alberta to ramp up its rollout.
“In the past we’ve been thinking about how we increase operations and the actual distribution mechanisms, now we’ve got to think about how to get higher than 70, ideally to 85 per cent plus,” said Dr. Jia Hu, Chair of 19 to Zero.
The province says waste is being kept to a minimum – with just 0.2 per cent of doses down the drain – and promises that the roll out will continue expanding to match supply.
“I think provinces and territories do their very best to administer, as rapidly and effectively, vaccines to Canadians throughout the country,” explained Major General Dany Fortin.
There may be ways to improve the rollout. Mass immunization clinics are hoping to help speed up the vaccination process, and Dr. Hu adds, “if we look at the science of vaccine hesitancy, prior to COVID, the only intervention known to increase uptake was a recommendation from a trusted healthcare provider like a family doctor, and that’s why I think activating the family doctors in Alberta will be critical.”
Those fresh from their first doses, are feeling a renewed hope for the future.
“I just want to celebrate it and I hope everyone else if they’re getting a shot they feel the same way. They should just be so grateful that we’re here! I know we still have to be careful. I know there’s a lockdown, but we’re on the way, right?! And I’m just really really happy, I could cry I’m so happy,” Jane Perry.
