BANFF – A glitch in the online COVID-19 vaccination booking system is making it difficult for Banff residents to make appointments online.
Town of Banff officials say when residents enter the Banff postal code, the online information indicates there are no available vaccination appointments for that area.
“That is a glitch that we have flagged to the health authority at AHS and they are working on that,” said Silvio Adamo, the director of emergency management for the Town of Banff.
“The workaround, unfortunately at the moment, is to enter a Canmore postal code and then that gets you access to booking online. Obviously, the Health Link 8-1-1 is also available for booking for Banff residents.”
Councillor Chip Olver said she spoke with someone on the 8-1-1 Health Link number last week, who also indicated Banff residents could enter a Calgary postal code to get access to vaccination appointments in this health zone.
“To be able to book, you can still use your real address; you don’t have to come up with a fictitious Calgary or Canmore address, or business address or friend’s address,” she said.
“You can enter your own. They don’t mean to prevent you from getting it; it’s just a glitch in the registration system.”
Gourlay’s Pharmacy in Banff has been given the OK to offer COVID-19 vaccines to those eligible in Alberta’s phased vaccination approach.
The IGA and Rexall pharmacies, and Alpine Medical Clinic, have applied to be able to give vaccinations, too.
“Our local health unit continues to vaccinate residents 75 and over,” Adamo said.
“Gourlay’s Pharmacy is now vaccinating 100 people per week in group 2A, which is the 65 to 74 group.”
Adamo said that Gourlay’s Pharmacy has capacity to ramp up the number of vaccinations as soon as supply becomes available.
“We’re also hopeful that the other two remaining pharmacies and the physician’s office receive provincial approval and start vaccinating soon,” he said.
As of March 21, 487,493 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered province-wide throughout Alberta. There are now 93,414 Albertans fully vaccinated with two doses.
Starting March 19, AHS opened bookings for all remaining birth years in the 2A cohort. Information on eligibility for Phase 2B and 2C is now available online.
Adamo said the based on provincial and federal data, there are estimates that every person 18 years and older will have their first shot by the end of June and be fully immunized by the end of September.
“Vaccinations are really going to start rolling into this country starting next week and we‘re confident that the province and federal government are going to be able to fulfil their promise of getting everyone vaccinated in a timely manner,” he said.
“We encourage all Banff residents to go online to the Alberta vaccination website regularly to stay up to date, as this site is continually changing eligibility and booking information.”
AHS was not immediately available for comment.
