While she was giving the latest update on COVID-19 today (June 3), Dr. Deena Hinshaw also revealed data from Alberta on the effectiveness of COVID-19 in preventing new cases, hospitalizations and deaths from the virus.  

Hinshaw says the data that's been collected since January 1st clearly shows the vaccines are remarkably effective, starting with case numbers.

"96 percent of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alberta were either unvaccinated or diagnosed within two weeks of receiving their first dose while their immunity was still building.  Just 0.2 percent of all people who had just one dose of vaccine in that time frame got COVID once 14 days had passed since that first shot."

Hinshaw says that in itself shows the power of the vaccine in preventing infection but, in case you're looking for more proof, she then moved on to its effectiveness against hospitalizations and deaths where she says the same story emerges.

"Since January 1st, 93 percent of the COVID-19 cases that ended up needing hospital care were either not vaccinated at all, or diagnosed with infection within two weeks of receiving their first dose.  In that time frame, from January 1st up until yesterday, there were 706 deaths due to COVID-19.  88 percent of these deaths were in individuals who were unvaccinated or were diagnosed with infections before the vaccine had a chance to be effective within those two weeks from their first dose."

She says the numbers reinforce just how important the vaccines are and how they will decrease deaths, hospitalizations and cases even further when more Albertans are protected by first and second doses. 

More than 46,000 doses of vaccine were administered bringing the number of Albertans with at least one dose to nearly 2.9 million or 64.6 percent of the province who are 12 and over.  11.3 percent of people have received both doses of the vaccine.  

296 new cases were reported in the province bringing our total active cases to 5,831, 474 less than yesterday.  

Hospitalizations fell by 24 people to 411 and those in the ICU dropped by two to 120.  Five more people succumbed to the virus for a total of 2,236 who have died.

The active cases in the City of Airdrie continued their decline, falling to 108 today, 14 less than on Wednesday.  In Rocky View County the active cases dropped seven cases to a total of 59. 

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com