Alberta’s NDP Health Critic David Shepherd issued the following statement in relation to the UCP’s failure to meet COVID-19 vaccination targets

“The Premier sold the people of Alberta hope in the form of a COVID-19 vaccine, but yet again we have seen unconscionable failure from his UCP Government to respond to this pandemic. 

“The Premier promised 29,000 COVID-19 vaccinations by the end of 2020. Currently, he hasn’t reached a quarter of that target and there are just two days left. There are widespread reports of vaccination sitting in storage waiting to be administered and mass confusion among frontline workers about when they will be vaccinated.

“COVID-19 hasn’t taken a break for Christmas, as we have seen 128 Albertans die as a result of this virus over the holidays. Frontline healthcare workers — who are waiting to be vaccinated — also continued to care for patients and save lives right through the holidays.

“Today, the Premier tried to blame his failure to meet vaccination targets on Alberta Health Services, claiming it was officials there who made the decision to withhold half of the vaccination supply to administer a second dose; however, on Dec. 14, Health Minister Tyler Shandro insisted no doses would be withheld.

“It’s clear this Government is unable to manage this pandemic response and they will try to blame everyone but themselves. They’ve lost the trust of Albertans at the worst possible time — and at a time when the vast majority of Albertans are doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19.”