National Post ePaper

Third dose eligibility expanded

Dshort@postmedia.com

Copping said he plans to increase health-care capacity, increase vaccination rates among vaccine-hesitant Albertans and prepare the health-care system to adequately respond to any future waves of COVID -19.

The cabinet shuffle comes as a rising number of reports are surfacing of discontent within the United Conservative Party caucus and internal questions around Kenney's leadership.

Kenney said Tuesday that he is happy to be held accountable through a leadership review, and he is committed to navigating the province through the fourth wave.

“We are focused on one thing, which is getting through this fourth wave and preparing for whatever else COVID may have in store for us in the future, not on politics,” said Kenney.

Speaking after the cabinet shuffle, chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced 1,519 new cases of COVID -19 were recorded in Alberta. The provincial positivity rate is 11.1 per cent and there are 20,917 active infections across the province.

Hinshaw said 29 new COVID deaths were reported in Alberta, pushing the total to 2,574. There are 996 people in hospital with COVID, including 222 in intensive care.

Kenney said there are 337 ICU beds in Alberta, including 164 surge beds that have been created in response to COVID-19. He said there are 293 people in total in ICU spaces.

“Nevertheless, with 293 ICU patients, the vast majority who are COVID positive, some 90 per cent of whom are not vaccinated, this is a very serious pressure on the system,” said Kenney. “Provincially, ICU capacity, including these additional surge beds, is currently at 87 per cent. Without the additional surge spaces, provincial ICU capacity would be 169 per cent based on our normal baseline.”

Meanwhile, Hinshaw announced the province would expand the number of Albertans eligible to receive a third, booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine.

People with advanced infections of HIV, people with immunodeficiency syndrome and patients receiving high-dose steroids and other immunosuppressant drugs can receive a third shot. Patients undergoing Car-t therapy can also get a third shot. Hinshaw said the changes were made to align with new recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

“We are now including these individuals, because their conditions make it harder for them to develop and sustain the same levels of long-lasting immunity,” said Hinshaw. “Booster doses will help to better protect them, especially with our current high case rates. Having said that, even after a third dose, some people remain vulnerable because of their medical conditions. To protect them, all of us can do our part by getting both doses of vaccine.”

Kenney said 78,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the 72 hours after the province announced the Restrictions Exemption Program last week that requires proof of vaccination to enter many non-essential spaces. The premier said about two million people have accessed their vaccination records since they were required on Monday.

As of end of day Monday, 81.4 per cent of Albertans 12 and up had received at least one dose of vaccine. A total of 72.8 per cent of eligible Albertans are fully vaccinated.

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2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

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