Premier Jason Kenney announced on Saturday that starting Monday a total of 1.7 million Albertans will be eligible to book their COVID-19 vaccine shot starting Monday.

That includes nearly 250,000 health care workers and associated staff. That's on top of 55,000 hospital staff and paramedics and 33,000 continuing care staff. A community of physicians including nurses, dentists, pharmacists and other health care professionals such as chiropractors, massage therapists, physio therapists and optometrists will be able to book their vaccine shot. This will also include associated staff with reception, cleaning and security staff among others.

Other patient care staff or those providing direct care to clients in the community for Alberta Health Services, for Covenant Health, Alberta Precision Labs, DynaLIFE and students doing practicum in clinical areas.

Kenney, who was joined by Education Minister Adriana Grange, also announced that rapid testing will be significantly expanding to more schools and regions of the province as soon as possible.

The tests will be rolled out to communities in Calgary, Edmonton, Grand Prairie and Lethbridge. Kenney says there are 400,000 rapid test kits that can be administered to about 200,000 students and 20,000 staff in about 300 communities.

MORE: https://globalnews.ca/news/7744760/alberta-schools-covid-coronavirus-third-wave/

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