PRESS RELEASE: UCP government’s risky new covid vaccine rollout begins today

“Make covid vaccine free for everyone and ensure health care workers can get it quickly and conveniently.” — McGowan

EDMONTON – The president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, Gil McGowan, is raising serious concerns about the fall rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, which officially begins today. Not only is the Government of Alberta ordering far fewer vaccine doses than in previous years, but it has also imposed a financial cost on most Albertans and severely restricted availability in other ways.

“No other province in Canada is charging for access to the covid vaccine,” said Gil McGowan. “This is a dangerous precedent. I urge Premier Smith to reconsider her plan because otherwise Alberta could face serious COVID-19 outbreaks over the fall and winter, which would impose a heavy burden on already strained health care facilities and workers, imposing exactly the kind of cost to taxpayers that she claims to be trying to avoid, not to mention the unnecessary human suffering.”

The Alberta Federation of Labour is responding to reports that the Alberta government has ordered only 485,000 doses of COVID-19 for the 2025/26 season, whereas 700,000 doses were delivered to Albertans each of the past two years. Albertans will be expected to pay over $100 for the vaccine, with free doses given only to Albertans in congregate care, which are facilities that offer supporting living to individuals that need assistance, and other vulnerable Albertans (no definition of “vulnerable” has yet been provided). The other significant change from previous years is that only public health nurses in public health facilities will be authorized to deliver doses, whereas previously the majority of vaccines were delivered through pharmacies. Registration for access to the vaccine opens today through the government portal.

McGowan is deeply concerned that the government’s vaccine rollout does not include any provision for health care workers. Albertans who work in health care or in continuing care should be able to trust that workplace safety includes protection from high-risk infections like covid. Instead, the government is sending the opposite message. Not only is the $110 fee a barrier for many health workers, given the rollout of vaccine is happening in four phases, with individuals in congregate care, vulnerable Albertans, and seniors being the priority, there is also a risk that doses will no longer be available by the time health care workers, let alone members of the general public, are able to request access to them.

“This year’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccine has been deliberately throttled by a premier who has personally expressed doubt about vaccine efficacy on numerous occasions, contrary to the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence,” said McGowan. “She seems to have learned nothing from Alberta’s ongoing public health crisis — the measles outbreak — which is worse here than almost anywhere in the western world. Her total apathy toward public health measures is putting Albertans at risk and is likely to put added pressure on health care facilities during the fall and winter. It’s time for a U-turn on this terrible policy decision. Make covid vaccine free for everyone and ensure health care workers can get it quickly and conveniently.”

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Laurence Miall
Director of Communications and Campaigns, AFL
Phone: 780-977-8165
Email: [email protected]

BACKGROUND

Registration for access to COVID-19 vaccines begins today through the government portal

Charging a fee for access to the covid vaccine goes against the recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations: “In the post-pandemic context, and as with any immunization program, efforts should continue to be made to ensure consideration of the needs of diverse population groups, based on health status, ethnicity or culture, ability, and other socioeconomic and demographic factors that may place individuals in vulnerable circumstances (e.g., occupational, social, economic or biological vulnerabilities). These efforts should include integrating the values and preferences of these populations in vaccine program planning and building capacity to ensure access, convenience, and acceptability of immunization services”

Health care workers in Alberta will pay for vaccines out of pocket, a potentially prohibitive barrier for some of them.

No other province in Canada is charging for access to the COVID-19 vaccine

The United Nurses of Alberta has stated that it is “absolutely irresponsible to force health care workers in both public and private workplaces to place orders in August and pay to receive a vaccine that is an essential component of workplace health and safety”

Health Sciences Association of Alberta has stated “we are very concerned this change will limit access to COVID-19 vaccines for many Albertans, especially frontline health care professionals who deserve to be protected.”