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Coming up at 4:30 pm, @shandro joins @CMOH_Alberta for today's update: https://globalnews.ca/news/7605321/alberta-coronavirus-vaccine-shortage-covid-19-alberta-health-january-28/
@shandro says 102524 #COVID19 doses have been administered with more than 12k ppl receiving 2 doses.
@shandro expresses frustrations at the delays in vaccine shipments, says the feds told #AB 'don't worry, be happy.'
@shandro says #AB can't rely on 6 doses in each vial. He says typically they can get 6 doses out of three-quarters of the vials #AB receives.
He says that's only if immunizers are using a very specific syringe.
@shandro says planning is based on five doses, can't base it on six unless they know every vial has six doses.
@shandro says enough is enough and that Albertans want a concrete timeline.
Hinshaw says AHS has concerns about changing the Pfizer label to 6 doses instead of 5. She says they are committed to using all vaccine when packaged for use.
She says immunizers have been able to extract 6th dose when possible but it isn't always possible. She also says there is a global shortage of the special syringe needed to extract 6th dose.
Hinshaw says a 1cc syringe must be used. She says AHS does have provincial supply but more will be needed to immunize all Albertans.
She says they have been able to extract a sixth dose in approximately 50% of the Pfizer vials.
New numbers:
-461 new cases
-(I missed the number of tests, sorry!)
-provincial positivity rate: 3.6%
-591 in hospital including 112 in ICU
-7 new deaths
-461 new cases
-(I missed the number of tests, sorry!)
-provincial positivity rate: 3.6%
-591 in hospital including 112 in ICU
-7 new deaths
Hinshaw also speaks to how deadly #COVID19 can be - saying in just 11 months, COVID19 has taken more lives than 10 years of influenza cases combined.
How will this affect #AB's timelines? Shandro says by getting 63k fewer doses this quarter, 63k fewer people in phase 1B will be immunized.
How large is the province's supply of the specialized syringes? Hinshaw defers to AHS, but says there isn't enough stock to complete the immunization program. She says AHS is looking to order more of the 1cc syringes. 1/2
2/2 Shandro chimes in and says it isn't about the syringes, it's about the agreement the feds came to with the manufacturers.
Was the World's Longest Hockey Game granted exemption? (Bground here: https://globalnews.ca/news/7579340/worlds-longest-hockey-game-covid-19-exemption/) Hinshaw says they worked w/organizers to ensure public health can be protected. She also says fundraising for the benefit of charity is in the public interest, benefit to the community
Can you clarify how often immunizers can get that 6th dose? Hinshaw says it's btw 50 and 60% because there are different syringes in different vaccination locations. 75% is the best scenario scenario if 1cc syringe used every time, skilled immunizers doing the prep every time
What do you want feds to do that it isn't already? Shandro says there's a need to understand what certainty, predictability Canada negotiated in its contracts.
Why are you still having in-person Cabinet meetings? Shandro says not all attend in person, not all are in the same room.
Critics say your outrage rings hollow when there's money in #COVID19 relief that #AB hasn't accessed? (Bground here: https://globalnews.ca/news/7598508/report-alberta-millions-dollars-federal-covid-19-unspent/) Shandro says those ppl need to give their head a shake, says #AB is standing up and calling on feds to fulfill their obligations to Cdns
