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By Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press

Health

Health-care union calls for Alberta government to halt plan to limit free vaccines

Jun 16, 2025 | 1:37 PM

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.

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta says that is the best way to protect patients, reduce hospitalizations, and keep the health-care system strong.

Smith says the aim of the new policy, announced last week, is to prevent wastage, recover costs, and protect those who need it the most by giving them the COVID shot for free.

However, most Albertans, including health-care workers and seniors who live independently, will have to pay out of pocket.

Union vice-president Leanne Alfaro says COVID-19 continues to put vulnerable Albertans at risk and vaccines remain the most effective tool for protecting both individuals and the broader health system.

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She also says workers should not be expected to put themselves in harm’s way without basic protection.

“Increasing the cost of medications doesn’t improve health care or make things more affordable—it does the exact opposite,” says Calgary Varsity MLA and Chair of the Future of Health Care, Dr. Luanne Metz. “The premier knows that people are struggling with the cost of living and prescription drugs. For her to make them pay more is unconscionable.”

“It’s cruel for the UCP government to put further financial burdens on Albertans who want to protect their health and their loved ones and not get COVID,” adds Sarah Hoffman, Alberta New Democrat Shadow Minister for Health. “Charging for routine vaccinations, whether it’s COVID or influenza, is dangerous and will weaken the herd immunity of our province. This is the opposite of a public health plan.”

“The UCP government wasted hundreds of millions of dollars on Turkish Tylenol, bloated surgical contracts and unusable PPE. They’re not interested in saving money; they’re only interested in conspiracy theories attacking the science of public health,” exclaims Hoffman. “Seniors and every health care patient deserve so much better than this baseless attack on affordability and preventative health care.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.

(With files from rdnewsNOW)