EDMONTON — Alberta's government says residents who are not immunocompromised or on social programs will soon have to pay to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The government says that since provinces began taking on responsibility for procuring the shots, it wants to cut down on waste.
It says an estimated one million COVID-19 vaccine doses, or just over half of Alberta's supply, were not used during the 2023-24 respiratory virus season.
It says that means $135 million worth of shots were wasted.
The government says it hasn't yet determined how much Albertans would pay, but an estimated cost to procure each vaccine is $110.
The province says it has ordered just under 500,000 of the vaccines for the fall and some of the estimated $49 million cost would be covered through taxpayers paying for their shots.
It says Albertans can "signal their intent" to receive the vaccine starting in August, with bookings to begin in October.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
