B.C. offers Albertans free COVID-19 shots as Alberta prepares to announce cost for vaccination

The premier continues to defend her policy that will force many Albertans to pay for COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, but there is another option.

Premier Danielle Smith has said more information will be released on Friday regarding how much COVID-19 shots will cost in Alberta.  

Speaking at a Thursday news conference, Smith defended a provincial policy that will force many Albertans to pay for their own COVID-19 vaccinations.

Only Alberta health-care workers, AISH recipients and the immunocompromised will be offered free COVID-19 shots.

She said Alberta won’t cover the cost for all Albertans to be vaccinated because, unlike in previous years when the federal government paid for the province to have the vaccine, Alberta is now on the hook for the cost.

“We’ll try it this way this year,” she said. “We are trying to mitigate costs because it is an expensive intervention.”

Details on how else might be eligible for a free shot – including teachers, seniors or other front-line workers – are not known.

The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Regardless of what happens in Alberta, residents of our province will still be able to get a COVID-19 vaccination for free.

They just might have to hop in their vehicle to get the shot.

British Columbia will continue to have a publicly funded COVID-19 vaccination program.

Citing a reciprocal agreement between provinces and territories in place since 2013, B.C.’s Ministry of Health says Canadian travellers should be able to receive publicly funded immunization anywhere.

And the ministry says that of course includes COVID-19 shots and of course includes Albertans.

You will need identification as a resident of Canada and a personal health number or equivalent.

However, the ministry says there are some caveats that can result in lengthy waits:

• residents of B.C. will be given priority for vaccination appointments, particularly those at higher risk of severe complications of COVID-19 illness; and
• locations where residents of other provinces can be vaccinated in B.C. are limited.

The ministry suggests calling the Get Vaccinated call centre at 1-833-838-2323 for information on public health unit locations as well as appointment availability.

The vaccinations will be available for anyone aged six months and older as part of the fall/winter viral respiratory illness season.

Non-BC residents should be prepared to wait up to several weeks for an available appointment, the ministry of health warned.  

- With files from Mark Villani