Alberta to receive bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 booster

Albertans 12 years of age and older will soon have an additional COVID-19 vaccine booster.

The bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster that includes the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 will be available for those 12 and older on Oct. 24.

The booster being released is in addition to the current Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that includes the BA.1 subvariant, which the province says is available on a “voluntary basis.”

Appointments will be available on Oct. 24 through the Alberta Vaccine Booking System, through pharmacies, or by calling Health Link at 811.

“We recognize that many Albertans are looking to receive their COVID-19 booster dose as we head into the fall and winter. As BA.4 and BA.5 are the prevalent strains in Alberta at this time, we are pleased to offer this additional option,” said Alberta Minister of Health Jason Copping.

People aged five years and older can get the current COVID-19 vaccine.

Influenza vaccine soon to be available

Albertans six months and older can get the influenza vaccine, which will be available on Oct. 17. The province says people can get both at the same time.

In addition, those 65 years and older are eligible to receive a high-dose flu vaccine. The Alberta government has ordered 1.9 million doses of influenza vaccine, saying it’s to help protect the health of Albertans.

The government recommends children between six months and four years of age wait 14 days between receiving their COVID-19 and influenza vaccine.

There were 2,906 lab-confirmed cases of influenza in Alberta and 14 influenza-related deaths in the 2021-22 flu season.

1,014 Albertans are in hospital with COVID-19, 31 in the ICU, and a total of 4,951 deaths as of Oct. 12.

There were 135 new cases reported on Oct. 10.

-With files from Todd Kaufman