Premier Kenney reported the COVID 19 update today along with the assurance that Alberta will be ready to distribute the vaccine when it becomes available.

Leading the COVID 19 Vaccine Task Force, will be Municipal Affairs Deputy Minister, Paul Wynnk. Premier Kenny is confident that General Wynnk who has 38 years of military service will well equipped to meet the tough job of distributing the vaccine to Albertan's when it becomes available. 

Kenny says, "We have been assured by the federal government that shipments will begin to arrive by January 4th, 2021 and continue to arrive throughout the early part of next year." The distribution will managed in phases with Phase One focusing on the "most at risk population". 

The projected time-line for immunizations are as follows and may change will depend on the arrival of the waves of vaccine. 

Phase 1, January 2021 to April 2021: 

An anticipated 435,000 Albertans will receive the vaccine in the first phase, averaging a little more than 10% of the population. This phase is entirely focused on Alberta's most at risk population including residents in long term care and designated supported living, the staff who work in these facilities, on reserve First Nations over the age of 65, seniors over the age of 75, and health care workers needed to ensure workforce capacity and likely at risk to transmit COVID-19 to those at greatest risk.

Phase 2, April 2021 to June 2021:

Phase two aims to vaccinate approximately 30% of the province. Which Albertans receive the vaccine in phase two is dependent on how the first phase goes. The newly appointed "COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force" will collaborate with Alberta Health Services to decide which priority groups still need to be immunized.

Phase 3, Fall 2021:

In this phase the vaccine will be offered to all Albertans.

Wednesday, December 2 was another day of concerning COVID 19 numbers in the province. All officials reiterated that while there is hope with the arrival of the vaccine, it will take time. It is imperative that everyone continues to follow all of the health protocols. 

The COVID 19 numbers are as follows:

  • Cochrane added two more cases for a total of 50 active cases. 
  • Rocky View County dropped five cases to 112 active cases.
  • 1,685 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours.
  • There are 504 people in hospital with 97 in ICU.
  • Ten more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours. 
  • Over 18,000 test were performed bringing the positivity rate to 9.2%