EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – The province has announced a new partnership with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) to help with COVID-19 vaccinations.
The UCP government will work with the roughly 11,000 physicians in Alberta to ensure the province can get as many vaccines administered as quickly as possible.
“Our first priority is to begin a conversation with Albertans about getting the vaccine,” said Health Minister Tyler Shandro in a statement.
“We know that some Albertans may be hesitant to get the vaccine. But we also know that Albertans want to protect their loved ones. That’s why we will work together to speak directly to Albertans about the importance of taking the vaccine.”
From family doctors caring for the physical and mental health of Albertans to intensive care unit physicians treating COVID-19 patients, doctors have been instrumental throughout the pandemic. 2/5
— Tyler Shandro ???????? (@shandro) February 5, 2021
The new partnership is aimed at education, to let people know more about the vaccine and why it’s safe to take.
The government and the AMA also looking at ways to have family doctors offices be able to give the vaccine to its patients.
“We know that doctors and other allied health professionals need to be included in the prioritization list,” added Shandro. “During the course of their workday, health-care workers and their staff are at risk of exposure. We need to make sure that Alberta’s primary care providers are prepared to respond to the millions of Albertans who will need to be vaccinated safely.”
The Alberta government has scheduled to start Phase 1B of its vaccine rollout this month, administering shots to seniors over the age of 75, First Nations and Metis people and anyone over 65 living in a First Nations community or Metis settlement.
Those plans could change as the province and Canada is dealing with a shortage of the vaccine due to manufacturing issues with Pfizer and Moderna.
As of Wednesday, 112,388 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Alberta with 21,794 people fully immunized with two doses.
