EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — After Health Canada recommended earlier Monday that the country pause use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine for those under 55 years old, Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the province will follow that recommendation.
Hinshaw says the move comes as concerns have been raised about blood clots in people in Europe.
“In a very small number of people who received the vaccine, a blood clot in the brain was reported four to twenty days after the vaccine,” Hinshaw said.
Alberta’s top doctor says there is no evidence of this happening in Alberta or anywhere else in Canada.
WATCH: Dr. Deena Hinshaw provides an update on COVID-19 in Alberta
Hinshaw adds these cases are rare circumstances and no other vaccine is an issue.
This pause will allow Health Canada to conduct more research. The agency says it has not received any reports of blood clots in Canada to date. Hinshaw says these are rare events and says the AZ vaccine still reduces the risk of hospitalization and death.
— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) March 29, 2021
She adds that it seems the blood clots could be linked to an immune response to the vaccine.
Hinshaw assures those 900 or so people in Alberta under the age of 55 who received the AstraZeneca vaccine that they are not considered to be at risk of blood clots.
“They should monitor their health and seek immediate medical attention if they experience health concerns.”
As said time and time again, Hinshaw reinforced the fact that the benefits of getting the vaccine far outweigh the small potential risks.
The AstraZeneca shot will continue to be offered to those 55 and older once more become available in the province.
Looking to Monday’s COVID-19 numbers update, the province identified 545 new cases of COVID-19, including 249 new variant cases.
Hospitalizations rose slightly to 288, with 64 people now in the ICU.
No new deaths were reported on Monday.
As Alberta adds 249 new variant cases, Dr. Hinshaw confirms that the variants in Alberta have an r-value of 1.35.
Last week, the overall r-value in Alberta was 1.14. #yeg #yyc #ableg #covid19ab https://t.co/pYJquSF860
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) March 29, 2021
As for vaccines, beginning Tuesday phase 2B of the vaccine rollout is set to begin, with Albertans born in or before 1963 with eligible underlying conditions able to book appointments.
Starting April 5, Alberta Health Services (AHS) will start taking bookings for people eligible in Phase 2B born in or before 1959.
By the end of Phase 2B, all Albertans born in 2005 or earlier (ages 16 and up) with high-risk health conditions will be able to receive the vaccine.
To date, roughly 608,000 doses of vaccine have been distributed in the province.
NEW:
Alberta announces that phase 2B of vaccines begins tomorrow.
Focuses on anyone with high risk of severe outcomes if they contract COVID19. #yeg #yyc #ableg #covid19ab pic.twitter.com/caPQ3vfVwq
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) March 29, 2021
