It’s no surprise then that when the Alberta government announced a vaccination policy earlier this month, they were quickly met with fierce backlash. Opponents have labeled the initiative as anti-science. The policy, described by the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services as “a responsible, targeted approach to COVID-19 immunization,” requires Albertans to pre-order vaccines and pay for them out of pocket starting today. This policy change comes on the heels of the federal government’s announcement that they would be passing vaccine procurement responsibilities to the provinces.
Though the development in June was welcomed, its robust plan has since drawn criticism, most notably for failing to ensure accessibility and lower barriers to overall vaccine uptake. From the province’s perspective, Ontarians interested in getting the vaccine will have to figure out the new system themselves. Certain populations will continue to have access to government-purchased vaccines, including older adults in congregate settings and people with weakened immune systems. For most, these costs will fall on their shoulders.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates the public cost of each COVID-19 vaccine dose at about $110. Federal administration’s cost estimate emphasizes the financial scope of this vaccine effort. Last year, just 13.7 percent of Albertans got vaccinated against COVID-19. Critics claim the new policy will continue increasing the general population’s vaccine hesitancy.
Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour was scathing in his denunciation of the government’s tactics. As Smith continued, “charging ordinary Albertans for access to their vaccine will discourage uptake of the vaccine altogether. This strategy would endanger the overwhelming majority of Albertans.” From where we stand, that sounds like precisely the needle the feds plan to thread. McGowan believes that prioritizing certain occupational groups for vaccination would be a prudent measure in increasing overall vaccination rates.
The Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services has been making early and concerted efforts to decrease hospitalizations and deaths of vulnerable populations. Their endeavor aims to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. The province’s dedication to funding vaccines for priority groups first demonstrates that the province wants to protect those most at risk first.
Alberta’s ongoing measles outbreak recently passed the U.S. in terms of confirmed cases per capita,” pointed out McGowan. He noted this disturbing pattern. It is a reminder of what awaits us with COVID-19 should vaccination uptake continue to falter. He characterized the new policy as “not a vaccine rollout. It’s not really a vax rollout strategy at all — it’s an anti-vax strategy, disguised as a vax rollout strategy. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
The province estimates that last year, 87% of administered doses were given in pharmacies, indicating a reliance on accessible locations for vaccinations. Albertans ages 6 months and older can book their vaccines through the Alberta vaccine booking system. Then in early October, they’ll get household-specific reminders encouraging them to make appointments.
Critics claim that raising the price of vaccines will make them inaccessible to large segments of the population and discourage people from getting vaccinated. This would drive a dramatic drop in vaccination rates. McGowan further stressed that “Covid is not a cold, it’s not the flu. It’s a multi-system disease that can do real serious damage.”
