(Canadian Press)

By David Opinko

Phases 2B and 2C of Alberta’s COVID vaccine rollout to start in April

Mar 15, 2021 | 3:48 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – In a couple of weeks’ time, more Albertans will become eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Starting sometime next month, Alberta Health Services will open Phases 2B and 2C of the vaccine rollout.

The exact timing has yet to be determined. It depends on how many doses of vaccine are received by the province and how quickly Phase 2A, which just started Monday, is completed.

READ MORE: Alberta’s vaccination program moves to Phase 2A on Monday

In Phase 2B, approximately 660,000 Albertans will become eligible while Phase 2C will see another 400,000 included.

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A growing list of pharmacies are now able to offer COVID-19 vaccines including dozens in Southern Alberta. A full list can be found here.

Vaccinations can also be scheduled by using the AHS online booking tool or by phoning Health Link at 811.

Phase 2B includes Albertans born between 1957-2005 (aged 16-64) who have any one of the following high-risk underlying health conditions:

• Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen (a missing spleen or a spleen that is no longer working)
• Cancer (anyone with a new diagnosis of or treatment for all forms of cancer in the last year, except non-invasive skin cancer)
• Chronic heart disease and vascular disease:
  • Including: congenital heart disease, chronic heart failure, heart or kidney disease from high blood pressure, and a history of a stroke
  • Not including: high blood pressure alone
• Chronic kidney diseases requiring regular medical monitoring or treatment
• Chronic Liver disease due to any cause (for example: cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and hemochromatosis)
• Chronic neurological disease (for example: epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, MS, muscular dystrophy and dementia)
• Chronic respiratory (lung) diseases:
  • Including: COPD, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and severe asthma that required an asthma-related emergency department visit or hospital admission in the past year
  • Not including: mild or well-controlled asthma
• Diabetes requiring insulin or other anti-diabetic medication to control
• Immunosuppression: a weakened immune response due to disease or treatment, including:
  • anyone undergoing chemotherapy or treatment for HIV, genetic disorders of the immune system
  • people receiving long-term medical treatment to control severe inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus
• Pregnancy: anyone who is currently pregnant
• Severe mental illness or substance use disorder requiring a hospital stay during the past year (for example: schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders and others)
• Severe obesity: a Body Mass Index of 40 kg/m2 or more
• Severe or profound learning disabilities or severe developmental delay:
  • Including: individuals with Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder and others
  • Not including: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Solid organ, bone marrow, or stem cell transplant recipients

A more detailed list of who is eligible can be found here.

For those in Phase 2B, you will not be required to have a doctor’s note. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says they will be relying on the “honour system.”

Phase 2C is broken into four groups and will commence once Phase 2B is completed.

Those who will become eligible include:

• Residents and support staff at eligible congregate living and work settings at risk for large outbreaks: including: correctional facilities, homeless shelters, meatpacking plants, group homes including disability, mental health and other types of licensed supportive living.
• Health-care workers working in patient care facilities or providing direct patient care in the community, in order to limit spread to high risk individuals, including: physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and all other regulated health care professionals and their office or support staff.
• Anyone working in patient care facilities or providing services directly to clients in the community for Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health, Alberta Precision Labs, DynaLife, and students undertaking placement practicums in clinical areas.
• Healthcare workers on First Nation reserves.
• Caregivers of Albertans who are most at risk of severe outcomes:
  • All designated family/support people of those individuals in long term care, designated supportive living and licensed supportive living facilities.
  • Up to 2 caregivers for children under 16 who have an eligible chronic condition but are unable to receive vaccine due to age.