ALBERTANS NEED TRANSPARENT VACCINE REPORTING, NOT A GOVERNMENT CONSUMED BY RUMOURS AND SCANDAL

EDMONTON - Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccination program is still well short of the goals promised by Premier Jason Kenney, and rumours are swirling while the UCP government is distracted with a wide-ranging scandal, a premier’s office in chaos, and an imminent cabinet shuffle.

Alberta’s NDP is recommending the government provide daily online reporting of vaccinations administered on a regional basis, inventory levels in Alberta, and anticipated incoming shipments.

“Albertans are holding onto the hope that comes with COVID vaccination, but their confidence has been shaken by Jason Kenney’s lack of leadership. Cabinet members and MLAs abandoned their posts and took tropical vacations while the vaccination program stalled,” said David Shepherd, NDP Health Critic. “Clear detailed daily reporting of the progress of the vaccine rollout would be a good first step in rebuilding public confidence.”

On December 14, Health Minister Tyler Shandro vowed that 29,000 Albertans would be vaccinated by the end of 2020, but less than half of that number actually got their first shot by New Year’s Day, after which the Kenney UCP government was consumed by scandal. Even today, the province is well short of its 2020 target.

On December 2, Kenney promised the vaccine would be available to all Albertans in the summer of 2021, but on December 30, AHS quietly revised its vaccination timetable to push vaccination of the general public into the fall, without any comment from Kenney. 

Several healthcare professionals are alleging waste and mishandling of the vaccine doses, which the government denies.

“It’s very difficult for Albertans to take statements from the Kenney government at face value after their trust was so completely betrayed,” Shepherd said. “It’s time to put the facts on the table for everyone to see. I’m confident AHS is tracking these numbers closely - they should share this information with Albertans today and every day until all Albertans have an opportunity to be immunized.”