Alberta ends free COVID shots for most residents

After throwing about $135 million worth of unused COVID-19 vaccines in the garbage last year, Alberta’s provincial government is overhauling its immunization program.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

After throwing about $135 million worth of unused COVID-19 vaccines in the garbage last year, Alberta’s provincial government is overhauling its immunization program.

A change to the federal COVID-19 vaccine procurement process earlier this year now places responsibility on provinces to purchase vaccines for their own residents.

“In previous years, we’ve seen significant vaccine wastage. By shifting to a targeted approach and introducing pre-ordering, we aim to better align supply with demand – ensuring we remain fiscally responsible while continuing to protect those at highest risk,” said Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Adriana LaGrange.

Last year, Alberta discarded over one million vaccine doses or more than half of its total order.

“Now that Alberta’s government is responsible for procuring vaccines, it’s important to better determine how many vaccines are needed to support efforts to minimize waste and control costs,” reads the province’s news release.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith explained that Albertans often choose not to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it’s not very effective compared to other vaccines due to the strain mutating rapidly.

“I think it’s because it doesn’t work particularly well, if you want the truth. I mean, a vaccine is one where you get an injection once or twice, and then you never develop the underlying condition. And so you have to judge vaccines on that basis,” she said.

Smith added that the vaccine needs to be chilled at -80 degrees Celsius and was generally put in packs of 10, meaning if you opened the pack and used one, the rest would be unusable within 12 hours.

“But 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,” said Smith.

Beginning this fall, the COVID-19 vaccine program will consist of four stages.

The first stage will provide the vaccines to seniors in supportive living accommodations and home care clients free of charge.

The subsequent three phases will see COVID-19 vaccines only available to residents through public health clinics, with pharmacies ceasing the administration of the shots.

Phase two will still offer vaccines for free to Albertans aged six months and older with underlying health conditions that compromise their immune system or congregate living accommodations. Albertans on social programs will be eligible for free COVID-19 vaccines as well.

The province’s final report on its pandemic response was finalized at the start of the year. It recommended halting the vaccine for healthy children and teenagers, citing similar directions from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the U.K.

The Australian government recently followed a similar precedent, advising against healthy infants, children, or adolescents without medical conditions from taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Benefits of vaccination are not considered to outweigh the potential harms,” said the Australian government.

During phase 3, Albertans 65 years old and older will be able to get COVID-19 vaccines, but will have to pay for them. The cost is to be determined. However, Smith cited that the average cost was previously $110 — a price she hoped to reduce. She added that the government does not want to make any money from this process.

Phase 4 will allow remaining Albertans to access COVID-19 vaccines. They will have to cover the full cost. Albertans who want to participate in this phase will be able to sign up through the Alberta Vaccine Booking System starting August 11.

The Federal Drug Administration in the United States similarly halted recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant women and healthy children.

True North has covered various stories of Canadians being injured by the COVID-19 vaccine.

Michael Oesch is one of the thousands of Canadians who experienced serious harm following the injection of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The reality is I’m dying and will not be alive by the end of this year from my (vaccine) injury. My legs will go, my arms will go, and then my lungs will go, and then I’ll die. And who do I blame?” he told True North.