Advocates say Alberta’s free COVID-19 vaccine requirements are missing some high risk groups

When COVID-19 vaccines become available in Alberta in two weeks, most Albertans will have to pay for them. CTV News' Nicole Weisberg has advice from an expert.

In two weeks time, some Albertans will be able to begin booking their free COVID-19 vaccines – but not all.

Those eligible for the free shot include residents in continuing care homes and senior supportive living accommodations, home care clients, people six months of age or older with underlying medical or immunocompromising conditions, individuals who are homeless, and those 65 and over who are receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit.

Health care workers are also eligible after the province reversed its initial policy excluding them last month.

All other Albertans will have to pay a $100 administrative fee to get the vaccine and will have to wait until Oct. 20 to schedule their shots.

Premier Danielle Smith said the province is now on the hook for paying for the COVID-19 vaccine, unlike in previous years where Ottawa footed the bill.

One doctor is criticizing the province’s decision to exclude some from getting the vaccination for free, saying a number of high-risk groups are being excluded.

“It’s unfortunate the vaccine is not available for free to everyone who wants it, just like the flu vaccine is,” said Top in an interview with CTV News Edmonton.

She said the discrepancies between the province’s recommendations and those of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) are disconcerting.

“The vaccine doesn’t appear to be offered for free to all Albertans 65 and over,” said Top. “We know that age is probably the biggest risk factor for severe disease.”

She said there were more than 400 COVID-19-related deaths in the province last year, adding that COVID-19 killed twice as many Albertans as influenza in 2024.

NACI also recommends the vaccine to people who live in or are from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities as well as members of racialized and other equity-denied communities. These groups are not included in Alberta’s eligibility criteria.

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“Regarding First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, NACI recommends vaccination due to higher risk,” said a statement from the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services. “Much of that risk is linked to a higher prevalence of underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, and obesity, which are already included in Alberta’s eligibility criteria.”

Lorian Hardcastle, an associate professor of law at the Cummings School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, said the $100 fee will be the reason many choose not to get the vaccine.

“The $100 is not based on income. For some people, where the $100 might mean very difficult choices around buying other things or paying their bills, that’s going to weigh differently than for someone with a much higher income,” Hardcastle told CTV News Edmonton.

She chalks the difference in recommendations between provincial and national health agencies to the issue of vaccines being highly politicized in Alberta.

“The government is having to do a difficult dance between vaccinating people where it’s essential, but then also giving lip service to the large number of their constituents who may be opposed to or not particularly enthusiastic about vaccines,” she said.

The province said its decision on the vaccine access is informed by NACI’s “broad recommendations,” but are tailored to Alberta’s specific needs.

Around 13 per cent of Albertans received a COVID-19 vaccination in 2024, according to the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services, and uptake among lower-risk groups has declined.

“Despite this relatively low immunization rate, hospital admissions this summer were the lowest since 2020, highlighting that the overall impact of COVID-19 has steadily decreased compared with earlier in the pandemic,” said the ministry.

Ultimately, both Hardcastle and Top say if you don’t qualify for a free shot, but are recommended to get one by NACI, you should try to if you have the means.

B.C.’s health ministry said Canadian travellers can receive publicly funded immunizations anywhere, citing a 2013 agreement between provinces and territories.

More than 174,000 doses of the vaccine have been pre-ordered in Alberta as of Sept. 17.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nicole Weisberg