BANFF – More than 7,100 residents of Banff National Park's estimated population of 10,000 have had their first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 443 individuals in Banff and Lake Louise now fully immunized.
Alberta’s new vaccine interactive map, which shows the percentage of individuals with at least one dose, percentage of people fully immunized, and total number of doses that have been administered, was released by the province last week.
“The numbers in our geospatial region, Banff and Lake Louise, are fantastic and I know they will continue to grow,” said Silvio Adamo, the director of emergency management for the Town of Banff.
“Our demographic and population in the valley seems to be more willing and there’s less hesitancy of the vaccine, so I’m really encouraged by how many folks in our valley are getting vaccinated.”
In Banff, municipal officials encourage people to look at the numbers, and not the percentages on the map, given the province uses a population count of 13,600 compared to a more realistic number of just under 10,000.
Adamo said the Town is using the typically more accurate municipal census of 8,800, which was the population count in 2017, and the Improvement District No. 9 is basing its population on the 2016 federal census of 1,028.
“We know the percentages are potentially skewed,” he said, noting many workers also left the Bow Valley when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in March 2020.
“When you look at the amount of vaccine and you look at that assumption of just under 10,000, we’re probably looking more at a first shot percentage in the 70 per cent range.”
For Canmore vaccination rates, the map includes the Municipal District of Bighorn and a large area to the southern tip of Kananaskis Country – so the numbers are not just those of Canmore residents.
In this region, as of the morning of May 26, the map indicates 15,223 people (53.8 per cent) have had at least one dose and 2,337 (8.3 per cent) individuals are fully vaccinated.
Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro said the province’s vaccine rollout is gaining momentum.
By tracking vaccine uptake within communities, he said he hopes that will help people support each other to be protected against the virus when and where it is needed most.
“As we move closer toward widespread immunity, we hope this will motivate individuals and communities to do the right thing for themselves, for each other and for our health system,” he said in a press release.
Meanwhile, Alberta Health Services has wrapped up a series of vaccination clinics at the Fenlands recreation centre in Banff, which were introduced when Banff was a COVID-19 hot spot in Alberta last month.
The provincial health units, several pharmacies and some physicians’ offices in Banff and Canmore continue to offer vaccinations.
Adamo said the goal is to get everyone in the valley who wants a shot in the arm vaccinated.
“Then we can develop that herd immunity within our community,” he said.
“We’re also working with Alberta Health Services now to start planning and advocating for second doses, either at the Fenlands or some other way for mass vaccinations of second doses.”
On March 1, Banff had COVID-19 under control with just three active cases before peaking at 164 on April 25. During this latest wave, Banff recorded its first COVID-19 death – 43-year-old longtime resident Ron Giesbrecht.
The latest figures as of May 26 show Banff currently has an active case count of five.
In neighbouring Canmore, according to the data on May 26, there are 12 active cases and in the MD of Bighorn, which includes Harvie Heights, Exshaw, Lac Des Arcs and Stoney Nakoda at Morley, there are 66 active cases.
