US EditionAlbertans to start paying for COVID-19 shots this fall
- The Alberta government announced that starting this fall most residents will have to pay for COVID-19 vaccines unless they are high-risk individuals.
- This change follows a federal shift in 2025 that transferred vaccine procurement responsibility from the federal government to provinces and territories.
- The province ordered just under 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses for the 2025-26 season after over one million doses went unused in 2023-24, resulting in $135 million wasted.
- The estimated price for each vaccine dose is $110, although the government has yet to decide the amount individuals will be charged when bookings open in October and residents can begin indicating their interest in August.
- The move to require payment for vaccines except for select groups is intended to reduce waste, but Opposition health critic Sarah Hoffman called it cruel and said it burdens Albertans wanting COVID protection.
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49 Articles
Beyond Local: Alberta premier defends charging most Albertans for COVID-19 vaccines
Alberta's government claims its new COVID-19 vaccine policy aligns with national guidance, but health experts are pushing back, questioning the decision to prioritize certain groups and potentially limit access to vaccines for others.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says that her government's new policy, which requires many Albertans to pay for vaccination against VOCID-19, aims to target those who need it most.
Alberta Changes COVID Vaccine Policy, Requires Those Not Deemed ‘High Risk’ to Pay
Starting this fall, some Alberta residents who want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be required to pay the full cost of the vaccine, the government says. The federal government has been paying for COVID vaccines since 2020, although usually the cost of vaccines is the responsibility of the provinces. In April, the procurement process for the COVID vaccine changed, and Ottawa stopped covering the cost, meaning the provinces are responsible f…
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