In Wednesday's COVID-19 update, Dr. Hinshaw said that as of 2:30 in the afternoon over 11,500 people had signed up to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Alberta Health Services will expand the parameters on Thursday, March 11 starting at 8 a.m. to include people born in 1958 and First Nations, Metis, and Inuit who were born in 1973. If you are eligible, Dr. Hinshaw encourages you to book an appointment saying, "If you are eligible to get the vaccine, please do so, and encourage your friends and neighbours to do so as well. The more people who become immunized, the less the virus will be able to mutate and the less it will impact our communities."

AHS will continue to book eligible Albertans to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine as long as the supply lasts.

To date, close to 309,000 people have been immunized with over 91,000 fully vaccinated with two doses. 

The COVID-19 numbers were as follows.

  • There were 399 new cases reported in the province. 
  • There are 245 people in the hospital with 37 of those in ICU.
  • Sadly, two more deaths were reported. 
  • There are active alerts or outbreaks in 259 schools or approximately 11% of schools in the province. 
  • There were 47 cases of the UK variant reported. 

With the vaccines being distributed, Dr. Hinshaw again reminded Albertans that health protocols need to continue to be followed. "Even if you have been vaccinated with one or two doses, all public health orders in place still apply. I know it can be tempting to let your guard down after immunization, but we need to better study and understand the effectiveness of the vaccines in preventing transmission – including asymptomatic and variant transmission – before we can safely alter our policies."