March 11, 2021
CALGARY — With its opening this morning at 7 a.m., Genesis Centre offers another option for eligible residents of northeast Calgary to receive their COVID-19 immunization, closer to home.
The new immunization site at Genesis is one of two AHS-run sites, and eight participating pharmacies, providing COVID-19 vaccine to Calgarians in the northeast quadrant of the city. The site has 10 vaccination stations and has the ability to roll out approximately 60 vaccines per hour.
Genesis is one of 24 AHS immunization sites in the Calgary Zone.
Currently, AHS has a total of 116 immunization sites across the province. With available vaccine supply, AHS is committed to immunizing 10,000 people across the province on average, per day. That amount will increase pending more vaccine supply.
“We recognize the local geographic area of northeast Calgary was one of the hardest hit communities during the second wave of the pandemic in our province,” says Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social Services.
“The Government of Alberta continues to work collaboratively with local community partners and AHS to reduce transmission and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in all communities. This includes supporting eligible residents in northeast Calgary to get immunized close to home.”
Genesis is one of two AHS immunization sites in the Calgary Zone engaged in the early rollout of the Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine to Albertans aged 50 to 64 and First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) individuals aged 35 to 49, who are healthy and do not have a severe chronic illness. Appointments will open in stages by birth year, one year at a time, while supply lasts.
AHS has received about 58,500 doses of Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine to date. These doses are being distributed to AHS immunization sites across the province.
“All vaccines approved for use in Canada are safe and effective. Covishield/AstraZeneca is proven to be highly effective in preventing serious illness and death in healthy adults 18 to 64,” says Dr. Cheri Nijssen-Jordan, AHS COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force Co-Lead. “We encourage all Albertans to get immunized as soon as they are eligible.”
The Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine is not available in pharmacies at this time due to limited supply. For more information on vaccine types and which Albertans are eligible to be immunized at pharmacies, refer to the Alberta COVID-19 Pharmacy Immunization Program.
Genesis Centre is open seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., with extended hours (from 7 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.) for the first week, starting March 12. COVID-19 immunization is by appointment only. There are no drop-ins. Other COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) will be offered at this site after March 24.
Albertans can book their appointment using AHS’ online booking tool, available at ahs.ca/covidvaccine, or by calling Health Link at 811.
Photos and video footage of today's Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine rollout at Genesis Centre is available for media use.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
