Hinshaw drops a "bombshell" at the end of the video that I just listened to:

New Western Canadian variant no cause for concern: Hinshaw

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.5659480

Great timing Hinshaw!

Who will want to take an experimental drug named apabetalone when you can take the drug administered in this new program?

Needed to find out more...then found this:

Listen at 1:39 mark.

Let's hope there are enough patients who absolutely HATE needles!

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/alberta-beginning-administering-antibody-for-seniors-high-risk-patients-with-covid-19

Alberta beginning administering antibody for seniors, high-risk patients with COVID-19

'While this medication is helpful, it does not change the fact that vaccines continue to be our most important tool to protect both ourselves and others,' said Hinshaw

Alberta Health Services teams have begun using a newly approved antibody treatment when responding to calls involving seniors and other high-risk patients, the first out-of-hospital treatment in the province.

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Tuesday that AHS and EMS mobile response teams have begun administering Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody drug, to people over the age of 65 who are positive for COVID-19 and are unvaccinated who want the treatment. Some stem cell and organ recipients, regardless of their vaccination status, are also eligible to receive the drug after Health Canada approved its use for mild to moderate COVID-19 cases.

“The treatment is being rolled out across the province in a phased approach starting with those of the highest risk of severe outcomes like hospitalization,” said Hinshaw. “While this medication is helpful, it does not change the fact that vaccines continue to be our most important tool to protect both ourselves and others.”

The AHS website states Sotrovimab is administered through an IV over an hour-long period, with patients monitored for an additional hour. Health Canada’s website states the drug can be used to stop COVID-19 symptoms from worsening in people over the age of 12 who weigh more than 40 kilograms and who are not in hospital.

“Sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody, a type of protein that attaches to the spike protein of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19, and prevents the virus from entering and infecting healthy cells within your body,” reads Health Canada’s website.

Hinshaw said the drug must be administered within five days of when symptoms first appear for maximum effectiveness. She said the drug is not a replacement for COVID-19 vaccines and encouraged everyone to get immunized.

“Albertans are still strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against the virus, as vaccines are the most effective method to prevent the serious outcomes from the disease,” said Hinshaw.

Hinshaw also announced 422 new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta on Tuesday from approximately 8,300 tests. The test positivity rate has dropped significantly since the peak of the fourth wave to 5.1 per cent on Tuesday, down from a high of 11 per cent in September.

Active cases dropped to 6,090, down from 6,387 on Monday. Hospitalizations remained at 608, while the number of people in intensive care fell to 128. Hinshaw said eight new deaths were reported to Alberta Health; however, four deaths previously attributed to COVID-19 have been removed from the provincial total following a review.

A total of 3,159 Albertans have died from COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Earlier Tuesday, Alberta Health announced there was a large uptick in third dose booster shot appointments being booked as 8,152 were given on Monday, the first day that eligibility expanded to everyone over the age of 70 and all First Nations, Metis and Inuit individuals aged 18 and older. There were 1,817 booster shots administered on Nov. 7 and 1,601 on Nov. 6.

Hinshaw said Tuesday that Alberta will be ready to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children aged five to 11 if Health Canada approves their use within that age range.

“Pending that decision, again, if they approve it, we will be ready to go to offer it to Albertans.”

She also reminded Albertans that they need to have proof of vaccination with a QR code starting Monday if they want to enter businesses participating in the restrictions exemption program.