Two-thirds of eligible Albertans are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Nearly 2.5 million individuals across the province, born in 2009 or earlier, have received both shots.

When accounting for the entire population, including those 11-years-old and under, this represents around 56 per cent.

Fort McMurray continues to trail the provincial average as 56 per cent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated.

The rural areas are even farther back at just under 38 per cent.

Dr. Hinshaw Defends Isolation Decision

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, is doubling down on the decision to end mandatory quarantine for those who contract COVID.

She wrote a letter on Wednesday which gave a more detailed explanation as to why she and her team believe quarantining after testing positive shouldn’t be mandatory starting on August 16.

Dr. Hinshaw claims we won’t be able to eliminate COVID and its time we learn to start living with the virus.

“Legally mandating everyone to stay home for 10 days if they have any symptoms is also an extraordinary measure. It was necessary before vaccines, but it is also incredibly disruptive; it could only be justified when the risk was unchecked by vaccine protection.”

In her mind, vaccines are the reason this decision can be made.

Severe outcomes have dropped significantly across Alberta since vaccines were first made available to the public.

As of Wednesday, 97 people were being treated for the virus with 23 of these individuals being cared for in the ICU.

Dr. Hinshaw also believes many will continue to quarantine if they test positive, which the province is highly recommending.

“I believe that for those who test positive for COVID-19, knowing that staying home is the way to protect others, and is the right thing to do, will be enough for them to take that action.”

She adds if cases get dangerously high in certain areas, they will look at bringing back local measures.