Alberta Charges $100 for COVID-19 Shots Amid Vaccine Waste Concerns

Alberta’s government has announced a significant shift in its COVID-19 vaccination strategy, introducing a $100 charge for most residents seeking the vaccine this flu season. Premier Danielle Smith attributed the decision to both high levels of vaccine wastage and the federal government’s cessation of funding for the program.

During her radio show on October 1, 2024, Smith emphasized that the province could no longer sustain the cost of free vaccinations without federal support. “If the feds aren’t going to give us the dollars to be able to pay for it, we have to find it within our current budget, and so that’s why we want to target it to those who are at risk,” she stated.

The province reports that only 14 percent of Albertans received the COVID-19 vaccine during the last flu season. This low demand resulted in approximately 401,000 doses being thrown away or left to expire, costing Alberta around $44 million. Smith highlighted that the total cost of COVID vaccine wastage over the past three years has reached an estimated $284 million.

Vaccine vials contain multiple doses, often six or ten, and once opened, they must be used within a limited time frame. “So we can’t keep doing it this way,” Smith remarked, pointing out that the funds used for wasted vaccines could have been redirected to other healthcare needs, such as addressing the backlog in knee and hip replacement surgeries.

The province also announced the rollout of a two-phase fall immunization program. Starting on October 1, 2024, Phase 1 will provide free COVID-19 shots to eligible Albertans, while Phase 2, set to commence on October 20, 2024, will allow the general public to receive vaccinations for the $100 fee.

Exemptions from the fee include healthcare workers, residents of continuing-care homes and senior living accommodations, home-care clients, individuals with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems, those experiencing homelessness, and seniors aged 65 and older receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit.

As Alberta navigates this new approach to COVID-19 vaccinations, the implications for public health and healthcare funding will be closely monitored.