Overview

• Free doses will be limited to defined higher‑risk groups, including health‑care workers after a recent reversal prompted by union requests, as well as immunocompromised people, seniors in care or on the Seniors Benefit, people receiving home care, and those on income support or experiencing homelessness.
• Immunizations will run in two phases, with eligible free groups starting Oct. 1 and all others opening Oct. 20, and most shots will be delivered at public health clinics rather than pharmacies.
• Alberta says it has ordered about 485,000 doses for the season, which is fewer than the number administered last year, and opened a preorder portal that runs through Sept. 30.
• Officials cite vaccine wastage and costs to justify the fee, pointing to roughly 401,000 doses valued at about $44 million going unused last season, while Premier Danielle Smith called the approach a trial run and referenced broader drug waste on her radio show.
• Public health experts, unions and the NDP warn the fee and reduced access points could depress uptake and raise health‑care costs, as neighboring provinces indicate they will provide free shots to visitors subject to availability and local prioritization.