Lethbridge to receive Moderna’s COVID vaccine this week, among the first in Alberta

Dec 29, 2020 | 3:48 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Several Albertan communities are set to receive doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine starting this week.

Premier Jason Kenney made the announcement Tuesday following Health Canada’s approval on December 23.

16,900 doses will arrive in the province today with the first batch going to facilities in Lethbridge, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, St. Paul, and Fort Saskatchewan.

“Because the Moderna vaccine can be stored at relatively-moderate temperatures, it can more easily be transported to these facilities, making it the ideal vaccine to reach our most vulnerable populations,” says Kenney.

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While the vaccine from Pfizer is being administered solely to health care workers in the province, for now, Kenney announced that the one from Moderna will be prioritized for long-term care and designated support centres.

“As more shipments of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines arrive in early January, immunization will focus on residents of long-term care and designated support living facilities, followed by seniors aged 75 and over and First Nations on reserve, Inuit, and on-settlement Metis individuals age 65 and older.”

By February, Kenney says he hopes to roll out the vaccines to people aged 75 or older in all parts of the province and an expanded list of health care workers.

by David Opinko