EDMONTON — Albertans can begin pre-ordering COVID-19 shots for the fall after a recent policy shift requiring most people to pay for their vaccination, but the provincial government still doesn't know how much.
Those looking to get the shot will still need to book an appointment after pre-ordering, and it's expected that most will have to pay more than $100 to get it.
Provinces took over responsibility for procuring the shots from federal authorities in April. Premier Danielle Smith's government, in June, announced it wanted to cut down on waste and recoup costs.
Speaking on Monday to CTV News Channel, Smith said the government was still crunching the numbers on how much Albertans would pay.
Asked to justify charging for the vaccine, she said Albertans already have to pay out of pocket for some vaccinations, such as RSV, yellow fever and shingles.
"We want to make sure that those who need this — who are the most at risk — get it for free, get it first, and then if others want it as an extra measure of protection, they can pay out of pocket like they would for other vaccines," Smith said.
"The number of people who picked up the vaccine last year was 13 per cent of the Alberta population, so the vast majority of Albertans have already made a decision ... to forgo the shot."
Smith has said $135 million got "flushed down the drain" last year, with doses wasted in part because Albertans are increasingly choosing not to get them.
The premier also has cast doubt on the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, her government is still covering the cost of it for some, including those with compromised immune systems, on social support programs or who are living in seniors' congregate care.
The province is not prioritizing health-care workers who are more likely to be exposed to the virus, contrary to the advice of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
Public health experts have said the policy could introduce barriers to getting vaccinated and lead to higher costs for taxpayers for things such as hospitalizations and severe complications.
The province has said it ordered just under 500,000 of the vaccines for the fall, or about one-third of what was ordered last season, at an estimated cost of $49 million.
Local pharmacies will no longer be given a supply. Instead, Albertans will need to receive their COVID-19 shots at public health clinics.
Routine influenza vaccines will continue to be publicly paid for, but can also be booked by Sept. 30 through the government's online booking system.
Dr. Luanne Metz, an Opposition NDP member of the legislature, said the government's process is designed to make COVID-19 vaccines unavailable to many Albertans.
She accused Smith of promoting false information by saying the vaccine doesn't work.
"It does not totally prevent illness, but that is not the goal of it," Metz said Monday.
"Just like flu vaccine doesn't totally prevent flu, it makes it so you have less severe illness, there's less absenteeism in the workplace, and fewer people get sick enough that they need hospitalization and fewer people die."
The added costs to the health-care system of a poor public vaccination campaign mean a "very bad economic decision," Metz said.
"It's just to pander to their people," she said, referring to anti-vaccination members of Smith's United Conservative Party.
Maddison McKee, spokeswoman for Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange, said the government is taking a "responsible" and "targeted" approach to COVID-19 immunization.
"The fall immunization plan is being finalized, and details — including the updated vaccination schedule, exact locations and administrative fee for COVID-19 vaccines — will be available soon," McKee said in an email.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
