Albertaos who do not qualify for free COVID-19 vaccines in their province of origin can obtain one in British Columbia.
The BC Ministry of Health confirmed that detail in response to a CBC News consultation. Canadian residents can be vaccinated due to a reciprocal agreement between all provinces and territories.
“Any immunization with public funds in BC can be provided at no cost for any Canadian trip within the province,” said a statement from the Ministry. “This includes providing a COVID-19 vaccine with public funds to Alberta people.”
There are some restrictions. Albertaos cannot obtain free vaccines in BC pharmacies. They will also need to make an appointment and BC residents will be the priority in clinics.
“Residents who are not BC must be prepared to wait for up to several weeks for an available appointment during the peak of the COVID-19 Immunization Program of Autumn/Winter, if an appointment is available,” said the statement.
The way Alberta can receive the COVID-19 vaccine has now changed. For some, it will soon come with a cost. The provincial government launched a new vaccination policy to reduce waste. But critics say that Albertaos pay for vaccines put everyone at risk.
Alberta is the only Canadian province that will not provide free universal access to COVID-19 vaccines this fall.
When the Alberta government first announced its policy in June, free access was limited to older people in support, people who received home care, people with committed immune systems or underlying medical conditions, people with AISH support and income and homeless people.
Other Albertaos who wish to vaccinate will have to register previously. The cost has not yet been publicly revealed, but the previous estimates of the province placed each immunization at $ 110.
Mitigating costs
At an unrelated press conference on Thursday, Minister Danielle Smith repeated his position that the policy of the province is based on last year’s waste.
She said that about 54 percent of last year’s COVID doses were spoiled due to lack of demand.
The acquisition of vaccines funded by the federal government in previous years and 2025 is the first season that the provinces and territories have to pay for their own vaccines.
This week, the province decided to extend free COVID vaccines to health workers who would originally have needed to pay.
Craig Jenne, a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary, said the COVID-19 vaccine is approved by Health Canada and recommended by the National Immunization Advisory Committee.
Jenne said that if the province wanted to save on waste, she could ask people to register for a vaccine, but still offers her for free.
“The additional steps, such as the previous record, tend to reduce the absorption of the vaccine, but at least eliminate the financial barrier for some and eliminate a very difficult decision for some families,” he said.
CBC News asked Smith why his government still cannot offer the vaccine for free, while still requires people to register previously. Smith said it is reduced to cost.
“We are trying to mitigate costs because it is a expensive intervention,” Smith replied. “We do not pay 100 percent of the cost of each vaccine. Therefore, we are just trying to align our Covid approach with the same approach we are adopting in RSV.”
The RSV vaccine is not free either
Jenne said that offering the RSV vaccine, that the province does not finance, in addition to COVID-19 immunizations, could relieve the load of the medical care system.
Other Province provinces allow all residents to obtain COVID vaccines for free.
Manitoba confirmed that anyone with a valid Canadian health card could obtain a COVID vaccination, although administrative rates could still be applied.
All Saskatchewan residents with a valid Saskatchewan medical care card can get their vaccines for free.
A government spokesman also confirmed that Lloydminister residents, a city on the border of Alberta-Saskatchewan, are eligible for the free immunizations of a Saskatchewan clinic, but did not say if other Albertans could vaccines there.
