Danielle Smith defends decision to make some Albertans pay for COVID-19 vaccines now funding has been devolved onto the provinces
Alberta’s recently announced approach to COVID-19 vaccination coverage marks a shift in the province’s public health policy — and could influence other jurisdictions, now that federal responsibilities for purchasing vaccines have devolved onto the provinces.
Premier Danielle Smith justified the introduction of out-of-pocket payment requirements for many Albertans seeking COVID-19 vaccinations by claiming the strategy will “focus resources on those who require them most.” During a weekend radio appearance following the policy’s rollout, Smith referenced substantial financial losses associated with unused vaccine doses, according to a report by The Canadian Press. “$135 million got ‘flushed down the drain’ last year,” she remarked, pointing out that fewer Albertans are opting to receive COVID vaccinations.
Citing perceived vaccine performance, Premier Smith added, “I think it's because it doesn't work particularly well, if you want the truth.” Last season, fewer than 14% of the province’s 4.8 million residents received the COVID-19 vaccine.
For employers, it may be an area they do want to venture given some of the polarizing views. But the devolution of funding may open up the possibility of more companies including COVID-19 as part of their benefits package. Should the vaccine be mandated like it was for many during the height of the pandemic? And should employees be burdened with the cost of staying up to date with boosters?
Smith clarified that, in her province, individuals in high-risk groups—such as people who are immunocompromised, seniors in congregate living facilities, and those receiving certain social supports—will continue to receive fully funded vaccinations. Meanwhile, “it's those that are healthy, that choose to do it because they've talked to their doctors, those are the ones that will have a little bit lesser priority,” Smith stated.
The intention, she explained, is to enhance taxpayer value: “We believe in vaccine choice, but we don't pay for everything.”
Smith also noted that influenza immunization rates, estimated at 21% last year, outpaced COVID vaccine uptake. She questioned the relative efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine versus those for influenza or measles. Despite rising measles cases—at levels not experienced in Alberta for nearly four decades—the province’s inoculation rate remains well below the 95% threshold generally cited by experts as necessary for population protection.
At present, the government has not finalized the exact cost that most Albertans, including older adults, will bear for COVID-19 vaccination, though estimates suggest it could be about $110 per shot. Publicly funded influenza vaccinations will continue unchanged.
Public health professionals in Alberta warn this policy revision could increase barriers to immunization, ultimately impacting public health outcomes and leading to higher costs for hospital care tied to severe viral infections. Infectious diseases physician Dr. Lynora Saxinger, from the University of Alberta, underlined that both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are reformulated seasonally. She voiced concern about the government’s ranking of their relative importance: “They're probably pretty similar in terms of how much potential they have to prevent severe illness — hospitalization, death, and then all those other things that come on the heels of both influenza and COVID,” she observed. Saxinger also underscored that vaccination remains critical for seniors, given the higher risks of complications like pneumonia, heart attack, and stroke after infection.
The Alberta government referenced guidance from the U.S. FDA led by notable vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., noting American recommendations to end routine vaccination for healthy pregnant women and children. However, Alberta’s Primary and Preventative Health Care Minister Adriana LaGrange was unavailable for comment, and her office would not confirm whether she agrees with Smith’s claim that the COVID vaccine “doesn't work particularly well.”
Spokesperson Maddison McKee stated late Friday that the province is “following national guidance,” though Alberta is not adopting the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s recommendation that health workers receive the shot. “Health care workers who do not fall into a higher-risk group will be eligible to purchase a vaccine,” McKee clarified.
Dr. Saxinger countered that the benefits of vaccinating healthcare staff are not confined to occupational protection: “If you vaccinate health care workers, you reduce the death rate of the vulnerable people in their care,” she explained, referencing influenza data.
The Opposition NDP remains highly critical of the policy, arguing it could discourage vaccination and compromise public safety. NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman described the decision to charge for COVID-19 shots as “dangerous, callous and anti-science,” stressing that it penalizes Albertans striving to protect themselves and their families.
Legal academic Lorian Hardcastle of the University of Calgary cautioned about the prospect of increased system-wide health costs, also stating concerns that the policy may undermine confidence in the importance of vaccination.
