Alberta opens Phase 1 COVID vaccine bookings

Alberta pharmacists will be allowed to administer the COVID-19 vaccine this year. Teri Fikowski reports.

Bookings are now open for all Albertans who qualify for free COVID-19 vaccinations based on their risk of severe illness.

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Beginning Monday, all Albertans who fall under Phase 1 of the government’s vaccination strategy are eligible for free COVID vaccinations.

Phase 1 includes:

• health-care workers;
• residents in continuing care and seniors supportive living facilities;
• homebound home care clients;
• individuals six months of age and older with underlying medical or immunocompromising conditions;
• individuals experiencing homelessness; and
• individuals 65 years of age and older who currently receive the Alberta Seniors Benefit.

Qualifying underlying medical conditions include cerebrovascular disease, heart conditions, chronic liver diseases, chronic lung diseases, chronic kidney diseases, cystic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2), obesity, pregnancy and tuberculosis.

Albertans with disabilities such as Down syndrome, ADHD, cerebral palsy, congenital disabilities, spinal cord injuries and other developmental disabilities also qualify.

Residents with mood disorders, depression, schizophrenia and spectrum disorders also qualify for free COVID shots.

Eligible immunocompromising conditions include:

• cancer (currently receiving treatment);
• HIV infection;
• primary immunodeficiency diseases;
• solid organ or blood stem cell transplant; and
• use of corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive medication or CAR T-cell therapy.

All other Albertans who do not fall into any of the above categories can only book appointment for Phase 2, which opens Oct. 20.

Those residents will need to pay $100 for their COVID-19 shot.

COVID vaccinations are mainly limited to public health clinics, but some pharmacies are offering the shot to patients for a fee.

Pharmacists offer COVID-shots

Some Alberta pharmacies can administer COVID-19 shots right away to those who don’t qualify under phase one.

Mathew Giroux at Cambrian Pharmacy in northeast Calgary said he was surprised to learn two weeks ago that he could order the vaccines.

“Around mid-September, there was also a little bit of a curveball and then pharmacies got access to private stock also, meaning like the people that do not qualify for publicly funded can also get it in the pharmacy like they added in the past service and obviously like, added charge,” he said.

Pharmacies also don’t have to wait for the phase two roll out on October 20th, meaning anyone can book based on vaccine availability.

“On the flip side on pharmacy we can start anytime. We don’t do public health so we don’t really have phases here so people pay out of pocket and we can really do any time.”

Giroux only ordered about a dozen shots to weigh the demand but said they are already booked up so he’ll likely order more soon.

Costs for a COVID-19 vaccine at pharmacies in Calgary appear to range between $130 to $155 dollars.

Giroux said it’s unclear if insurance will cover those or some of those costs.

Eligible Albertans are encouraged to book their shots online or by calling Health Link at 811.