As part of a new approach to COVID-19 immunizations, the provincial government has announced that it will no longer be covering the cost of the vaccines for some of its residents.
During the 2023-24 respiratory virus season, just over one million COVID-19 vaccines were wasted, which is over half of what the government had ordered. At a rate of $110 a dose, estimates put the cost of the waste at around $135 million.
Starting this fall, a new COVID-19 vaccine program will be rolled out in four phases in attempts to minimize waste and switch the cost to the individual receiving the vaccine rather than the province.
During phase one, COVID-19 vaccines are available free of charge to residents of seniors in supportive living and home care clients.
However, following phase one, COVID-19 vaccines will only be available through public health clinics, with community pharmacies no longer administering the immunizations.
In phase two, those six months and older with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems and Albertans on social programs are able to receive the vaccine through government funding.
Phase three allows the COVID vaccine to be used by any Albertan 65 and older, however, they must cover the full cost of the vaccine.
Phase four opens the door to all Albertans, who will be required to cover the full costs of the immunization.
Work is “underway” to determine what the final cost of the vaccine will be per dosage; however, it is likely to be over $110 per dosage due to government-cited prices.
With the virus still around and still evolving, it is unclear how the transmission of the infection can change year to year. Requiring a financial barrier to access these essential public health services could potentially lead to a healthcare system overload not dissimilar to the one faced during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Danielle Smith defended her decision to only provide vaccines at public health centres on her call-in radio program, Your Province, Your Premier on Saturday, stating that this could allow the government to negotiate and keep prices as low as possible.
“We want to avoid wastage, we want to make sure people get it as a priority who are most at risk and then make it available to whoever else wants it,” she said.
