A nurse prepares a COVID vaccine shot on Oct. 3, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
Alberta’s government says it will provide free COVID-19 immunizations for health care workers this fall, after it said most Albertans, including health care workers, would have to pay for it.
The province said health care workers would now be eligible for a free COVID-19 immunization in phase 1 of its two-phase rollout of the program.
“Offering the vaccine to health care workers helps protect vulnerable patients and maintain a strong workforce, ensuring the health system can continue delivering safe, effective care,” the government said in an Aug. 22 news release.
The government said it would also cover the cost of the vaccination for seniors, those 6 months of age and older with underlying medical conditions and compromised immune systems, and homeless individuals.
All other Albertans who want to get the vaccine will have to pay $100 and wait for phase 2 of the rollout if they want the vaccine, the government said.
The Health Sciences Association of Alberta said it was pleased the vaccines would be offered free to health care workers. It added that doses were being given out on a “fully voluntary basis.”
“We advocated for this in our bargaining with AHS,” the union said in a statement on its website. “We want to thank the work of the HSAA/AHS bargaining committee for their dedication and advocacy for your health and safety.”
Vaccine Cost
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the decision to make some Albertans pay for the vaccine was “wrong” and must be reversed “immediately.”
“Albertans deserve the same access to this vaccine that every other Canadian gets. The UCP government should make public health a priority by setting up a free registration system to get everyone the vaccine who wants it,” he said in an Aug. 22 post on X. Nenshi added that it would “reduce the burden” on hospitals.
Smith defended the charge for the vaccine on an Aug. 23 radio show, saying the government had to consider the cost, noting that 13.7 percent of Albertans received the vaccine in 2024.
“The value of the product that has been thrown out over the last three years is $284 million, so we can’t keep doing it this way,” she said during the show.
Smith said the government was trying to be respectful to taxpayers and minimize the waste.
“This is going to be a trial run to see how we do on it, and we’ll see how it goes this season.”
Ottawa, which used to pay for the vaccines during the pandemic, has since put it on the provinces to cover the cost for the COVID-19 vaccine this year.
Alberta’s government said it ordered 485,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The government said that Albertans eligible for the vaccine in phase 1 could pre-book a vaccine through the Alberta Vaccine Booking Systems until Sept. 30. Those who do not pre-book before that date can still book an appointment in October, once doses become available.
Booking for Albertans in phase 2 is expected to begin on Oct. 20. Appointments will remain open for as long as supplies last, the government said.
The COVID-19 vaccine will be made available only through public health clinics in the province, according to the government. It added that some pharmacists will be able to provide immunizations at continuing care and assisted living facilities.
Routine influenza vaccines continue to be publicly covered, the government said.
Smith’s government at the same time commissioned a task force in 2022 to look into pandemic policies including vaccine mandates. The task force recommended in its report released earlier this year that all COVID-19 vaccine use be stopped unless there is full disclosure of potential risks with the vaccines. The government of Alberta said it would consider the report’s recommendations.
Chandra Philip is a news reporter with the Canadian edition of The Epoch Times.