Alberta Shifts COVID-19 Vaccine Funding: Who Pays Now?

Get ready for a change in Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccine landscape. Starting this fall, the province will implement a new policy requiring Albertans not deemed ‘high-risk’ to cover the full cost of their COVID-19 vaccinations.

This shift comes after the federal government ended its funding for COVID-19 vaccines in April. While the provinces typically shoulder the responsibility for vaccine costs, Ottawa’s prior financial support had been in place since 2020.

The Alberta government cites significant vaccine wastage as the primary reason behind the cost-shift. They estimate that a staggering 54 percent (approximately one million doses) of COVID-19 vaccines were wasted between 2023 and 2024, resulting in an estimated $135 million loss. This significant financial burden is prompting the new policy to recoup costs.

The details of who qualifies as ‘high-risk’ and the exact cost for those who will be required to pay remain to be clarified by the Alberta government. Stay tuned for further updates as this policy unfolds.