Calgary TELUS Convention Centre opens as mass vaccination site Monday

Calgary’s TELUS Convention Centre will open as a mass vaccination clinic on Monday. As Taylor Braat reports, up to 5,000 doses will eventually be administered there each day.

CALGARY (CityNews) — As vaccine arrivals ramp up in Canada, the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre will soon be home to one of Alberta’s largest mass vaccination sites.

It opens on Monday to accommodate the doses Canada is now receiving.

The site is outfitted with 20 vaccination stations, with plans to scale up as more doses make their way to the city.

Nick Thain, a senior operating officer with Alberta Health Services, says thousands of Albertans will eventually be able to get immunized at the site each day.

“We’re able to do 500 vaccinations a day, and so as we scale up this site to deliver more vaccine when we get to 100 stations, we’ll be able to deliver 5,000 vaccinations a day for those who wish to be vaccinated.”

Thain is encouraging Albertans to sign up for their vaccine appointments. The first week is already fully booked.

Free parking will be available but the city is encouraging people to use Calgary Transit or cycle to the site, as there is limited parking on the weekend when compared with how many immunization appointments are expected each day.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi called for those able to book their appointment to do so now.

“The very best vaccine is the one that’s in your arm, so as you become eligible, make sure you sign up immediately.”

Variants remain a major concern in Alberta, with half of the new cases reported Saturday identified as variants of concern and a “significant” outbreak of the P1 variant also announced in the province the same day.

But when it comes to more restrictions, Mayor Nenshi says that’s not necessarily the answer.

“It doesn’t matter as much what the rules are as our ability to follow them,” said Nenshi.

Eligible Albertans can book online or call HealthLink at 811 to book their vaccination appointment.

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