It is deeply concerning to me, an Albertan, that In August 2025, the UCP government will be no longer funding the COVID 19 vaccine for most Albertans, forcing Albertans to pay for their own vaccines, unless you fall into one of the specialized categories such as living in congregate care, immune compromised, on social programs, or have certain pre existing conditions (the UCP government has yet to clarify exactly what those preexisting conditions are). The reasons given are the fact that only half of the vaccine supply purchased in 2023-2024 were used, resulting in a waste of money totalling $135 million. It is worth noting that the federal government still covered the cost of the provinces procuring the COVID vaccine in the 2023-2024, and only this year is the federal government handing the cost of vaccine procurement back to the provinces. It is estimated the cost to Albertans will be $110 per shot. Not only will most Albertans be forced to pay for the vaccine, but also, access will be restricted to public health clinics as pharmacies will no longer be able to give the vaccine. 

***It is worth noting that the vaccine is still available, for free, to any Albertan, up until this change takes place in August, 2025.  Upon speaking with the pharmacy in my city, there are still shots available. ***

This change to Albertans will be huge. There will be many people who will not be able to afford this vaccine and private employee  benefit programs may not cover vaccines.   Cases could rise, and more people could become critically ill, need hospitalization - which also costs the provincial government money, perhaps far more than the vaccine cost itself - and die.  

We are currently in an affordability crisis as it is in this province, due to the high cost of living, tariffs on certain goods, high mortgage rates, etc. With the province no longer funding Covid vaccines, Albertans may be forced to choose between protecting themselves and their loved ones and putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads.

Is this government intent on pandering to its anti-vax base?  Relying on herd immunity and previous vaccine uptakes, which only last 3 months, can only protect Albertans so far. 

The Alberta government appears to be following the lead of the head of the FDA in the United States, a known anti-vaxxer, who has stopped recommending vaccines to pregnant woman and healthy children, despite the fact that a pregnant woman has a higher risk of severe illness from Covid than those who aren't pregnant. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/family-resources-library/covid-19-pregnancy-and-childbirth 

It's a slippery slope and it now appears no vaccine is safe. One minute this government is refusing to cover Covid vaccines, the next minute this government could choose to stop covering the measles vaccine, or the flu shot.  According to Friends of Medicare, Alberta has seen the highest levels of death rates from flu since 2009 and the highest measles infections since 1985.https://globalnews.ca/news/11240743/alberta-covid-19-vaccine-cost/

The deadline of August is fast approaching, please, make your voices heard and sign this petition. Thank you. 

(Photo credit Albertapolitics.ca)