Alberta lifts vaccine mandate for AHS workers, kids now eligible for booster shots
Posted March 8, 2022 4:26 pm.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) workers will no longer be required to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or regular rapid test come Thursday afternoon.
The province announcing that, as of March 10 at 4 p.m., the mandate would be dropped.
NEW:
Alberta orders Alberta Health Services to rescind its vaccine mandate as of March 10th. #yeg #yyc #ableg #COvid19ab
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) March 8, 2022
“AHS’ immunization policy was implemented to protect patients, workers and the public earlier in the pandemic. However, we are now in a different stage of our response and the overwhelming majority of our healthcare workforce understands the importance of getting vaccinated. We need to make sure that every healthcare worker who is available to work, can, which is why we are lifting this mandate,” said Minister of Health Jason Copping on Tuesday.
Currently, 97.7 per cent of AHS full and part time employees are fully vaccinated.
Any workers who are unvaccinated and on a leave of absence will be allowed to return to work once the mandate lifts.
Kids now eligible for booster shots
Copping also announced the province will now offer booster vaccines for kids.
All kids aged 12 to 17 can receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 14, as long as it’s been a minimum of five months after their second dose.
Appointments for third doses can be booked at Alberta Health Service clinics and participating pharmacies through the Alberta Vaccine Booking system.
Albertans can also call 811 to book vaccination appointments with AHS.
“While the rate of severe outcomes for youth aged 12 to 17 remains low compared with those in older age categories or for youth with risk factors, third doses have shown to offer better protection against the Omicron variant,” said Copping.
“Booster doses of vaccines are an excellent way to strengthen protection against severe outcomes from COVID-19.”
