Health experts, advocates and unions are sounding alarm bells in Alberta. They’re pushing back hard against the provincial government’s recent move to establish a paid COVID-19 vaccination program. This plan has been widely criticized as confusing and alarming, calling into question the accessibility of our future communities and the re-prioritization of public health. Premier Danielle Smith’s comments regarding wasted vaccine doses have only added fuel to the fire, as many fear this approach could hinder the province’s response to the ongoing pandemic.
Late last month, Premier Smith made headlines by claiming $135 million in unused COVID-19 vaccine doses were “thrown in the garbage.” He said they had been “wasted down the toilet.” This comment comes during a week when the federal government authorized 485,000 doses for this autumn’s expected fall immunization campaign. The prospect of imposing a fee for these vaccines has most certainly caused a stir. Conservatively, even dollar estimates suggest that each shot may cost up to $110. To pay for at least part of the projected $49 million expense, the government intends to recover some of the cost with fees imposed on those who get vaccinated.
Albertans can begin scheduling their fall COVID-19 vaccinations today, but the story about how much they’ll cost in total is much less clear. In early January, the government officially declared that it would begin charging for vaccines. When that online ordering system opened two months later, it led to chaos for future SNAP recipients.
Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s former chief medical officer of health, criticized the government’s approach. Essentially, he argued that the plan looks as if it is meant for sabotaging this year’s immune movements. In doing so, Talbot raised the most serious concern. He feels the strategy endangers the public’s health and places health workers in dangerous situations, possibly requiring them to go on sick leave rather than provide critical care.
“It’s bad enough that there’s a list that says you’re going to ration it, but then to have confusion about who’s on the list — that just seems cruel.” – Dr. James Talbot
That backlash has been amplified by many unions and public health experts. They contend that the proposed plan imposes burdensome hurdles to vaccine access and that it targets low-income people more than anyone. Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, expressed his concerns in a recent open letter to Premier Smith. He called for critical workers, such as health workers and teachers, to be added to priority vaccination lists. Failing to protect them breaks workplace health and safety laws.
“You’ve created this unfairness where if you’re rich, you can get protected, but if you’re poor, you may not be able to.” – Dr. James Talbot
Concerns extend beyond public health implications. Unsurprisingly, stakeholders are worried that the plan will result in greater demand for financial assistance programs, such as those provided by our friends at Alberta Lung. The nonprofit expects to see an increase in demand for their services, as people struggle to afford the expenses of getting vaccinated.
Others, including some senior provincial officials, adamantly defend the new policy. They argue that other vaccines are already out of pocket due to cuts in federal funding. Critics say that this kind of thinking misses the point. Dr. Talbot pointed out that Alberta will be the only province in Canada to force its citizens to pay for their own vaccines. This decision is especially alarming given that the national trend has been to provide vaccinations for free.
“It’s not incompetence, it’s a vaccine suppression strategy, not a rollout strategy,” McGowan continued. He’s concerned the province’s path forward will exacerbate inequalities in access to healthcare.
Interim chief medical officer of health, Dr. Sunil Sookram, was not available to comment on these urgent concerns. Comms director Kyle Warner told us that plans for a fall immunization rollout are still being worked out. Details regarding the new vaccination schedule, eligible conditions, where to go specifically and admin costs will be available in the coming days.
Alberta’s recently self-inflicted COVID-19 pandemic disaster comes at a time when reticence about vaccination persists. Public health advocates and experts are calling on the state to address these growing challenges with balance and equity. The public health community is increasingly advocating for a new plan that puts ease of access front and center. They want to shield everybody, regardless of wealth.
