Alberta government weighs future of COVID-19 vaccination as federal program winds down
CBC
The future of Alberta's COVID-19 vaccination program is unclear with federal funding set to end this summer.
Ottawa has been paying for the shots and distributing them across the country since they became available.
But the Public Health Agency of Canada quietly announced, last week, the provinces and territories will take over purchasing their own supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
"This approach is consistent with the approach for vaccines used in regular immunization programs," a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) spokesperson said in a statement emailed to CBC News.
"Provinces and territories will determine vaccine eligibility and the optimal timing for vaccination by considering factors such as the availability of updated vaccines and the trends associated with COVID-19 in their jurisdiction."
According to PHAC, there is enough supply of the federally funded vaccines to last through this spring. After that, provinces will be responsible for determining how many doses they want to order.
What that means for Albertans is unclear.
The provincial government is still working out its plan and appears to be undecided on the question of providing the vaccine — for free — to Albertans.
A spokesperson for the Health Minister told CBC News the province is reviewing the new recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), and Alberta Health is drafting policy options for consideration.
"We recognize there would be a significant cost associated with providing more provincially funded immunizations and as we look towards Budget 2025, Alberta's government is reviewing funding allocations across all ministries to ensure we are funding the priorities most important to Albertans," the health minister's office said in an email.
Edmonton-based infectious diseases specialist, Dr. Stephanie Smith, said it's difficult to predict what the province will do.
"COVID seems to be so politically fraught. When you look at influenza vaccination, it's available to everyone. It's free of charge," said Smith, who works at the University of Alberta Hospital.
"I think we should be thinking of it kind of like influenza."
She expects there will likely be some funding for COVID-19 vaccination in Alberta. But how much, and who will be eligible, are key questions, she said.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Four in five of the wildfires so far in Saskatchewan this year have been caused by humans — the vast majority of them accidentally. But experts say part of the reason they've spread so far, so fast, is another human factor: climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels.
Just a block away from the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan there's a garden uniting green thumbs in Lloydminster.
Shelley Lindaas has long dreamed of seeing a Kermode bear cub in person.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report outlining the events leading to the death of Erixon Kabera answered some questions for his family and friends, but many remain.
Syed Hassan says he doesn't like to complain much. But when his wife told him she got a parking ticket on Thursday night, he knew he needed to speak out.
Following the public outcry over the Jian Ghomeshi case, some legal scholars and sexual assault survivor advocates lauded changes made to the Criminal Code that would prevent defence lawyers from surprising complainants at trial with past emails or text messages with the defendant.
The Waterloo Region District School Board has been talking a lot about the word "family" this month.
At Pedro's Island Eatery in North Rustico, owner Pedro Gameiro has long been not a fan of using seed oils for frying
The parking lot of the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse was full on Friday, and the building surrounded by well-dressed young people and their proud families. Despite the smoky conditions in the city, there was much to celebrate.
Toronto has moved one step closer to allowing fiveplexes and sixplexes in neighbourhoods across the city.
Warning: Some readers may find photos in this story distressing.
Fifty years ago this fall the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States met in a castle outside Paris for three days of meetings, at the conclusion of which they issued the Declaration of Rambouillet, a 15-point statement of principles and commitments.
An Iranian woman living in Newfoundland and Labrador says she's watching attacks between Israel and Iran with worry for her family back home.