CP NewsAlert: Alberta to pay for COVID shots for health workers in policy reversal
It comes two months after the government said most Albertans, including health workers, would have to pay for COVID-19 shots this fall.
Public health experts and health-care unions called it irresponsible to force front-line workers to pay for protection in the workplace.
Premier Danielle Smith has said the aim of the new policy is to prevent wastage, after some $135 million was spent on unused doses.
The government hasn't finalized how much other Albertans will need to pay, but an estimated cost to buy each shot is $110.
The province says those who have compromised immune systems, people on social programs and seniors in congregate settings will be covered.
More coming.
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Edmonton Journal
10 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Opinion: Where have all Alberta's COVID vaccines gone?
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Alberta Health Services opened a drop-in first dose COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Edmonton Expo Centre, Wednesday June 9, 2021. Photo by David Bloom / David Bloom/Postmedia We are travelling in September and October and in preparation I checked my vaccine status. My last COVID shot was August 2024, and as someone over age 65 travelling by planes and trains, it seemed prudent to update this. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors I thought I was in luck when the provincial government announced a new system for getting a COVID-19 vaccine. This is what I have learned. My pharmacy tells me their entire vaccine supply was withdrawn by Alberta Health Services (AHS) as of July 31, and that I need to go to an AHS immunization clinic. After registering on the AHS interface, I'm told I need to make an appointment but an online appointment interface is not available. Global News cites AHS in saying 'that Albertans who place an order through the Alberta vaccine-booking system will be sent a reminder in early October to book an appointment to get it.' Too little, too late for our travel needs. I called 811, our tax-dollar supported health information line. While professional, I was told the vaccine is not available and won't be until sometime in October, well after we need it. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Then I remembered we have private travel clinics in Alberta for immunizations. Sorry, they say, COVID vaccines are not on their list. My family doctor has checked their resources which match the information above — they have no access or discretion and are required to send patients to AHS clinics. British Columbia restricts vaccines to B.C. residents so a quick trip there is not an option. The Saskatchewan immunization program for fall 2025 has not been announced. The Public Health Agency of Canada says COVID vaccines are available to everyone in Canada. They tell me to call the Alberta government. The Alberta government office of Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Adriana LaGrange requires email contact. I've been thanked for writing. So what's going on? Is this just an Alberta issue? Is it too much to ask that a new policy allow for physician discretion? Have anti-vaxxers in Alberta indirectly encroached on my personal health choices? Has RFK Jr. so disrupted the U.S. pipeline for vaccines that Canada cannot move forward on its own? Below is what I understand. This new Alberta policy seems to be in response to the federal government ending payment for all COVID-19 vaccines in Canada. Pharmacies and unions have pushed back against this policy. Infectious disease experts argue that Alberta is not following Government of Canada guidelines. Dr. James Talbot, a former provincial chief medical officer of health, is quoted, 'This (new policy) is saying if you want to prevent yourself from getting a serious illness and the serious consequences that go with it, if you have money you're fine. If you're a member of the working poor or a single-parent family, you're out of luck.' I have discovered that for now, even when you can pay, you are out of luck. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This may not just be an Alberta issue. The U.S. is behind on COVID vaccine approvals and production this year so that vaccine recommendations and campaigns are stalled while rates are modestly increasing. This should give us all pause. It seems impossible that we should be in this position — five generations of our family have had good health care in an Alberta system that encouraged individuals to be proactive about prevention. After all, prevention saves health resources for others who need it. I'm not just worried for myself but for family, friends, neighbours and fellow Alberta citizens. Will the availability of COVID-19 vaccines be more than an exercise in luck for those who can and cannot pay? Why are physicians not allowed discretion when it comes to immunizations? Where have all the COVID-19 vaccines gone? Faith G. Davis, PhD, epidemiology, emeritus professor and retired vice-dean, Public Health, University of Alberta and fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don't publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal |The Edmonton Sun.
Edmonton Journal
13 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Alberta government to cover COVID-19 shots for health-care workers in policy reversal
A union representing 30,000 health-care workers in Alberta is calling on Premier Danielle Smith's government to reverse course and provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all front-line workers and any other Albertan who wants the shot. Postmedia file photo EDMONTON — In a partial policy reversal, Alberta's government said Tuesday it will cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations for health-care workers. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Maddison McKee, spokesperson to Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange, said in an email that COVID-19 vaccine coverage will be extended to all health-care workers this fall under the first phase of the province's vaccination rollout. 'Immunization will remain voluntary,' said McKee. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again It comes two months after the government said most Albertans, including health workers, would have to pay for COVID-19 shots this season. Public health experts and health-care unions called it irresponsible to force front-line workers to pay for protection in the workplace. Premier Danielle Smith has said the aim of the new policy is to prevent wastage, after some $135 million was spent on unused doses. She's also pointed out that other vaccinations come with an out-of-pocket fee. The government did not immediately respond to questions about what prompted the shift. The Health Sciences Association of Alberta is one of several unions representing health-care workers that have been publicly pressing the government for months. President Mike Parker said his members demanded the change at the bargaining table, but the government decided to make it a blanket policy instead. The union reached a new tentative agreement last week with employers on wages and benefits, but it is yet to be ratified. 'This is both in the interest of our members and the public to make sure that these folks stay healthy and on the job,' Parker said. 'I'm pleased to see that it's now going to be inclusive of all health-care workers from the work that we did.' Parker said the government's next step should be allowing everyone to get vaccinated, if they want, free of charge. The government hasn't finalized how much other Albertans will need to pay, but an estimated cost to buy each shot is $110. The province said in June those who have compromised immune systems, people on social programs and seniors in congregate settings will be covered. Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called on the United Conservative Party government to give the shot to all seniors at no cost.
Winnipeg Free Press
21 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
CancerCare clears staff to use main doors
CancerCare will allow staff to use the main doors into the building 'going forward' after the nurses union says their members were forced to use a hidden, more dangerous entryway without any security. Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson said nurses and other staff were asked to begin using a door on the west side of the building starting during the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients were screened for the virus at the main door, but have continued to receive memos from CancerCare since then asking that staff refrain from using the main doors. 'There often are individuals lying passed out by the door, there's often people hanging out back there because it's a hidden area,' Jackson said Tuesday. 'It's not safe.' MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES The Manitoba Nurses Union president says nurses and other staff were asked to begin using a door on the west side of the CancerCare Manitoba building during the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients were screened for the virus at the main door. Jackson said that a nurse who recently tried to use the main doors after a person was blocking the west side entrance was denied and scolded by security, with another memo from HSC following. 'It is such an unsafe area for these nurses to have to utilize, and I fail to see why they couldn't use the front door as they did in the past,' she said. CancerCare has five other entrances around the 675 McDermot Ave. building, and staff had been asked to use other doors during the pandemic, but the practice has continued since, said spokesperson Twylla Krueger, to help manage congestion during peak clinic hours and allow security to focus on patient access. 'That said, going forward, staff are permitted to use the front entrance, while still asking for their co-operation to prioritize these doors for patients during our clinical hours,' she said in an email. The change comes after a string of violent incidents at the nearby Health Sciences Centre campus that Jackson said has spread to CancerCare. About a month ago, she said a nurse reported being randomly slapped by a person in the area while walking from the parkade to CancerCare. A nurse working at CancerCare who spoke with the Free Press on the condition of anonymity said they had been recently told the change was made to protect 'patient confidentiality,' but expressed skepticism. 'Well, I laughed. Every person that works in this building takes a (Personal Health Information Act) pledge,' they said. CancerCare's statement, which asks that staff 'prioritize these doors for patients during our clinical hours' falls short of what's needed for safety, the nurse said, noting peak patient care hours at CancerCare are between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 'Ninety-five per cent of the staff in this building work 8 to 4:15… it's just a joke,' they said. Earlier this month, MNU members voted to 'grey list' the Health Sciences Centre, a union tactic that would see members discourage other nurses from taking on new jobs or available shifts at the hospital, after four women and a teenage girl were sexually assaulted on or around the campus grounds on July 2. In a memo sent to HSC staff last week obtained by the Free Press, interim president and CEO of Shared Health Dr. Chris Christodoulou said a meeting was held with 'multiple partners to address the safety concerns… as highlighted in the recent grey-listing announcement.' The memo announced four town halls, scheduled on different days in August and ranging from 60 to 75 minutes long, would be held in the food court for staff to express their concerns to the HSC executive. 'We do not take this situation lightly,' Christodoulou said in the memo. 'The road ahead may be complex, but I believe by collaborating and fostering an environment of openness and respect, we can drive the positive change needed to improve the safety and well-being of everyone at Health Sciences Centre.' Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. Jackson said she has not heard from Shared Health on the vote and expressed concern with the public location of the town halls. 'I do not think it (is) conducive for individuals to be really honest with what was happening,' she said. A Shared Health spokesperson said they held a two-hour meeting with the president of MNU's local at HSC on Aug. 8, the same day as the grey-listing vote. 'Private meetings are also available for those who prefer to speak confidentially,' the spokesperson said in an email. 'Future drop-in meetings will be scheduled at varying times to maximize accessibility.' Malak AbasReporter Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak. Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
