A COVID-19 vaccine in a file photo. Scott Olson/Getty Images
The Alberta government has announced that new COVID-19 vaccines to be available this fall will cost $100.
Alberta will be paying for COVID vaccines for seniors, people with weakened immune systems, and health care staff, who can start booking appointments to receive the shot Oct. 1, according to an Aug. 22 press release. For everyone else who receives the updated vaccine, the price will be $100.
Specifically, Alberta will provide the new vaccine free of charge to all seniors and individuals in continuing care homes, those above 6 months old with underlying medical conditions or vulnerable immune systems, health care workers, homeless people, and anybody over 65 who receives the Alberta Seniors Benefit.
Health Canada confirmed the approval of a new Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine that targets the LP.8.1 Omicron variant of the virus in an Aug. 18 statement provided to The Epoch Times. On Aug. 22, Moderna Inc. issued a press release, saying that the federal agency has approved its Spikevax vaccine, which targets the same Omicron variant.
Ottawa ended federal funding for COVID vaccines this January, meaning provinces will be now be responsible for funding the vaccines and deciding who is eligible for free shots.
Alberta says that implementing a system where most people pay for the vaccine themselves will prevent millions of doses of the vaccine from potentially going unused and wasted.
“We are striking a balance between protecting vulnerable Albertans and preventing vaccine wastage. We remain committed to ensuring Albertans who are at a higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 have access to vaccines,” Alberta’s Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Adriana LaGrange said in the province’s Aug. 22 news release.
According to the province, 401,000 doses of COVID vaccines expired or were not used in Alberta last year, amounting to approximately $44 million in losses. Alberta said that 13.7 percent of Albertans got a COVID vaccination last year.
Albertans can sign up online until Sept. 30 to pre-register to receive the updated shot, with instructions set to arrive via text or email, or can book later starting on Oct. 20.
B.C. has said that Albertans who don’t qualify to receive the new vaccine for free are welcome to travel to B.C. to receive a shot free of charge.
According to an Aug. 19 joint statement from Pfizer-BioNtech, the new vaccine will be available at most pharmacies in Canada in the coming months. Alberta said the majority of vaccines will be available in public health clinics run by the province.
