Toronto 
Credit: Govt. of Alberta
Alberta Health Services has announced that all eligible Albertans can walk in for vaccines at Edmonton EXPO Centre, Southport clinic in Calgary and 26 pharmacies in Calgary and Edmonton.
According to the news release, any Albertan in the age range 55 to 64, regardless of where they live, can attend these locations to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine without an appointment starting April 17th.
Currently, 710 pharmacies continue to offer appointments for the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Calgary rapid flow clinic at the Telus Convention Centre will continue to offer AstraZeneca by appointment.
Alberta has administered more than 27,500 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, along with 58,000 doses of CoviSHIELD/AstraZeneca.
AHS is reminding Albertans that the risk of VIPIT is exceedingly rare. It is far more likely to experience blood clots from smoking, falls/injuries and other common everyday occurrences. The risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 treatment in those aged 55 to 59 is approximately 1,500 times greater than the risk of VIPIT, and the risk of death from COVID-19 in this age group is approximately 125 times greater than the risk of VIPIT.
There have been no confirmed cases of the rare blood clots known as vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) in Alberta, and only one case in all of Canada.
Walk-in Clinics For AstraZeneca Vaccine in Edmonton and Calgary
The AHS walk-in clinics will open on April 17 and will run for five days initially. Each AHS site has a capacity for 500 AstraZeneca walk-ins to start. The clinics will be extended subject to available vaccines and demand.
The Southport location, at 10301 Southport Lane SW in Calgary, will operate April 17-21 (Saturday to Wednesday), from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
The Edmonton EXPO Centre, at 7515 118 Avenue NW, will operate:
- April 17-18 (Saturday and Sunday): 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- April 19-20 (Monday and Tuesday): 12:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
- April 21 (Wednesday): 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For a list of pharmacies accepting walk-ins, as well as those taking appointment-based bookings, visit the Alberta Blue Cross website.
All Albertans eligible in Phase 1, 2A, 2B and part of 2C can also to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment with any participating pharmacy or Alberta Health Services (AHS).
