COVID-19 vaccine offered at Stampede breakfast in northeast Calgary
To help boost the vaccination rate, the Centre for Newcomers hosted a Stampede breakfast at the Northgate Village Shopping Centre this morning and offered Moderna shots at a nearby Alberta Health Services walk-in clinic.
Nathan Bensler, a facilitator with 19 to Zero, was on-site encouraging people to get their vaccine.
“I’ve walked a few people to the clinic,” he said. “Getting a bunch of people their second dose and a few people their first dose is fantastic.”
The unique approach comes after a successful project that included several pop-up vaccination sites in the northeast, including at the Village Square Leisure Centre.
“When we started collaborating with the Calgary Stampede we thought it was a great idea also to bring AHS on-site to bring the vaccine for those who don’t have it yet,” said Charlie Wang vice president client services with the Centre for Newcomers.
Northeast Calgary saw some of the highest COVID-19 rates in the country at one point but had low vaccination rates. AHS data show first dose vaccination rates in the northeast still trails neighbouring communities.
Shabana Shaazad was thrilled to be able to get out of the house and enjoy the Stampede with friends. She says having the option to get a shot at an event people would already be attending is convenient.
“People are hesitant to go and make an appointment,” she said. “This opportunity is great.”
AHS says 73.7 per cent of eligible Albertans have received their first dose. Compared to provinces like B.C., Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec, Alberta is falling behind for first doses.
Recently, Premier Jason Kenney said there might be vaccination sites on the Stampede grounds but in a press conference Friday, Health Minister Tyler Shandro did not say whether that was happening.
However, other efforts have been made to try to reach “herd immunity” in the province. AHS has created pop-up clinics in several rural communities such as Cayley and teams have been working with Hutterite colonies.
“People should get their vaccines,” said Catherine Shun, a registered nurse at the Foothills Medical Centre.
“It really helps lower our cases and it helps protect our family and friends so we can go back to our normal lives.”
The Centre for Newcomers says hundreds of people attended the Stampede breakfast and as many as 100 people were vaccinated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.