Banff Calls for additional vaccine supply, expanded clinic offerings from province
The Town of Banff is asking the province to increase the number of doses available for Bow Valley residents and to help with more delivery options.
The letter sent earlier this week also calls for more rapid test kits, which the town would like to distribute, saying pharmacists need to focus on injections instead of fielding inquiries about the hard to obtain kits.
"We have seen success every time we do a walk-in clinic here and that doesn't require an appointment," said Banff mayor Corrie DiManno. She said requiring people to produce an Alberta Health Care card is another barrier in a town that relies on seasonal labour.
For Banff and surrounding area (known as ID 9) immunization rates for 20-39 year olds is about 75 per cent - well behind the provincial average. This is also the area's key service employee demographic.
But the province said the Bow Valley is faring better than that - in a statement on Thursday Alberta Health said there "there is adequate supply of vaccine" in the Bow Valley. The statement went on to say appointments appear tighter than they because while 11 pharmacists are offering COVID vaccinations, just three are using the provincial booking system.
Corrie DiManno was elected as mayor of Banff ahead of the Oct. 18 election. (Courtesy Town of Banff)
The tourism hub is above the provincial averages in all other demographics, including 10 points ahead for 5-11 year olds.
The Town has already put $20,000 into offering mobile clinics. Two it hosted last week resulted in another 430 shots, most of which were boosters. Another was offered for staff at Sunshine Village on Wednesday.
The resort requires all of its roughly 750 staff to be vaccinated.
"It's of such major importance to us because many of our team members don't have easy access into Calgary or major urban centers to get a vaccine," said Kendra Scurfield, director of brand and communications for Sunshine Village.
DiManno said she's confident the region can improve uptake, but said the unique challenges require a closer partnership with the province.
"We've got the same shared goals here and we can offer some on-the-ground possible solutions for them," DiManno said.
Two more mobile clinics are planned for next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip
Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.