Government of Alberta Media Release: Vaccinating teachers, education and child care workers

The following media release was released by the Government of Alberta at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 2021. 
 
May 03, 2021


Vaccinating teachers, education and child care workers

 
Alberta teachers, early childhood educators and support staff can start booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments starting May 4.
 

More than 52,000 certificated teachers, 29,000 support staff and 24,000 child care workers will be able to get the vaccine, helping protect schools, daycares and the health of children and youth provincewide.

“With more vaccines coming in, we are expanding the rollout to further protect schools and child care facilities. We know how challenging this pandemic has been on our front-line workers. They have worked incredibly hard throughout this pandemic, continuing to teach and provide support for young people every day. By offering them the vaccine, we are making schools, daycares and communities safer throughout our province.”

Jason Kenney, Premier
 

“By expanding the vaccine to teachers and child care workers, we are protecting children provincewide. Very soon, we will be able to take it one step further and start offering vaccines to every adult in Alberta. The more people who get vaccinated, the sooner we can protect our communities, reduce the burden on our health-care system, and get life back to normal in our province.”

Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health
 

“We know there are many benefits to being in a classroom – for students and for education professionals. Moving forward with vaccines for teachers, school support and administrative staff and bus drivers will add another layer of protection in schools so that students can continue safely learning in class to the greatest extent possible. I encourage everyone who works with our children and is eligible, to sign up for their vaccine as soon as possible.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education
 

”Early childhood educators, operators and support staff play an essential role in providing quality care to children and have done an exceptional job keeping them safe and healthy throughout the pandemic. I’ve heard and spoken to a number of early childhood educators and staff, and I know this will be welcome news as we take further steps to provide safer spaces for them and Alberta children.”

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Children’s Services

 

Starting May 4, Alberta teachers and education workers can begin booking appointments through the AHS online booking tool, 811 or participating pharmacies provincewide.

All certificated teachers actively teaching in kindergarten through Grade 12 are eligible, including those public, separate, francophone, charter, private/independent/ECS operators, and First Nations schools, substitute teachers, administrators and other certified teachers working in separate roles.

This includes support workers, such as educational assistants, bus drivers, custodians and others who support schools.

Some of these teachers and support workers will have already received the vaccine in earlier phases.    

Also starting May 4, certified early childhood educators and support staff provincewide can begin booking appointments. This includes all staff working in licensed child care programs, including day cares, out of school care programs, preschools and family day homes.

Bookings will operate on the honour system. No proof of employment is required when eligible individuals attend their appointment. All eligible Albertans are encouraged to book appointments as soon as possible.

All Albertans aged 50 and up as well as First Nations, Métis and Inuit aged 35 and up are currently eligible to book appointments to receive an mRNA vaccine. Please book your appointment now to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Vaccines for RMWB and Banff

Despite the recent delay in Janssen vaccines, Alberta will deploy 20,000 additional vaccines to support the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Town of Banff. The age group eligible for immunization in these communities will be lowered to 18 years and older.

Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.

Quick facts

  • More than 1.64 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta.
  • All adult Albertans will be offered the vaccine before June 30.
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