Younger Albertans now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Strathmore and Wheatland County youth aged 12 and older are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

The province has moved to Phase 3 of its COVID-19 vaccination program, making 3.8 million Albertans eligible for the vaccine.

As of May 19, 1.89 million doses of vaccine had been administered across the province, including over 720,000 doses in the Calgary Zone (of which Strathmore and Wheatland County are part of). More than 1.57 million people from Alberta have received at least one vaccine dose, while about 316,000 people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

According to the government, the vaccine is at least 80 per cent effective in preventing severe illness, and receiving the second dose ensures protection for as long as possible.

Most Albertans are eligible for a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine no later than four months after the first dose. 

For AstraZeneca vaccines, second doses are available no later than four months, but also no earlier than 12 weeks after the first dose. Profoundly immunocompromised Albertans are eligible for a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna 21 to 28 days after the first dose, and for a second dose of AstraZeneca 12 weeks after the first dose. People eligible for this include transplant recipients, those treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, and those with malignant hematologic disorders and non-hematologic malignant solid tumours.