EDMONTON, AB – Alberta Health Services is nearing the maximum number of bookings it can schedule for the current supply of the Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine.
Eligible Albertans are encouraged to book their appointments online or by calling HealthLink at 811 until 4;00 on Sunday. After that time, bookings for any remaining doses of Covishield/AstraZeneca will be available only through 811.
Albertans who were born in 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit people born in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976 are eligible for Covishield/AstraZeneca.
There will not be another birth year opening at this time, due to the limited number of doses remaining. AHS anticipates additional Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine this spring.
Alberta received an initial allotment of 58,500 doses of Covishield/AstraZeneca.
Once additional supply of Covishield/AstraZeneca arrives, AHS will open the same birth years again to ensure all individuals that want this vaccine, and are eligible, will receive it.
For individuals who choose not to receive the Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine, AHS anticipates being able to immunize these individuals using other vaccine products sometime in May.
Timelines are subject to change depending on vaccine supply. It’s expected that all Albertans, 18 years of age and over, will have the opportunity to receive their immunization by June.
Covishield is the brand name of a vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India that is the same as AstraZeneca. This vaccine was approved for use in Canada on February 26, is safe and effective, and will help prevent serious illness.