March 15, 2021
EDMONTON: As of 1 p.m., about 8,000 more Albertans have booked to receive their COVID-19 immunization today, following the launch of Phase 2A this morning.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has now booked appointments for more than 200,000 Albertans since public immunizations began in February.
Phase 2A expands immunization eligibility to people born between 1947 and 1956, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis people born in 1971 or earlier.
People in these two groups are now able to book appointments through participating pharmacies. A list of participating pharmacies is available at https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/news/covid-19-immunization-program-information.php.
Some people in Phase 2A are also able to book appointments using the AHS online booking tool, or by calling Health Link 811. Those born in 1947 or earlier and First Nations, Métis and Inuit people born in 1962 or earlier are able to book through AHS. These appointments can be booked through the AHS online booking tool (ahs.ca/covidvaccine), or through Health Link 811 if people need booking assistance.
The AHS online booking tool was temporarily taken offline this morning due to network issues, however the tool was operational just after 10 a.m. and no further delays have been reported.
To ensure the stability of the AHS online booking tool and 811, and to help make sure we don’t have more people booking than we have available appointments, AHS will open up more appointments according to birth year as the week progresses.
Updates to eligible birth years will be communicated by Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services daily by website, news release and social media.
If the wait time is long when you call or go online to book, or you receive a busy signal through the 811 booking system, please visit later in the day. There are minimal waits in off times - after 5 p.m. and before 7 a.m.
Users who want to change COVID-19 immunization appointments will not be able to make changes today through the online booking tool or Health Link 811. A coding change will be implemented overnight, and that functionality will be improved starting March 16. Please return to the online booking tool or call Health Link 811 at that time to rebook or change your appointment.
We understand the process of booking a COVID-19 immunization appointment may be confusing and stressful for some and sometimes this leads to high emotions.
Please know all our teams are doing their best to book as many Albertans in to get immunized as quickly as possible. We are here to help. Please be patient. Abusive behaviour is not acceptable.
If you have questions about eligibility criteria, please go to alberta.ca/covid for more information.
For information on the vaccine rollout and how to book an appointment, visit ahs.ca/covidvaccine.
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.
