Alberta to cover covid vaccines for health care workers after all
In a partial policy reversal, Alberta government said on Tuesday that it would cover the cost of vaccination for health care workers.
Primary and Preventive Health Services Minister Adriana Lagrange spokesperson Madison McKi said in an email that the Kovid -19 vaccine coverage will be extended to all health care workers, which fall under the first phase of the province’s vaccination rollout.
“Vaccination will be voluntary,” McKi said.
Most Albertons, including health workers by the government, will have to pay for Kovid -19 shots this season, it comes after two months.
Public health experts and health care unions called it irresponsible to force front-line workers to pay for security in the workplace.
‘We had to raise our voices’
Chairman of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta Mike Parker said that the government had promised that its members would have their vaccines during the recent collective bargaining round.
Parker said, however, this promise is not in the actual collective agreement and HSAA Would like to happen.
He said, “We had to increase our voices on this and we are happy to see that it has come forward today.”
“There are many pieces of devices that you need to keep in the job – any job, whatever looks. Reaching these vaccines is part of that conversation.”
The way Alberton can receive the Covid-19 vaccine, now has changed. For some, it will soon come with a cost. The provincial government introduced a new vaccination policy to reduce waste. But critics say that paying albertons for vaccination puts everyone at risk.
David HarryganThe director of the labor relationship with Alberta’s joint nurses stated that the policy is “an incredible relief.”
“I think many people hope that there is going to be another bounce Kovid Getting into the fall, “he said.” Especially keeping in mind the obstacles for health care workers, working with the compromised patients, we thought it was very unrealistic. ,
They said Una The vaccine coverage is expected to apply to all members, including long -term care, however, it has not yet been confirmed.
Premier Daniel Smith has said the purpose of the new vaccine The policy is to prevent wastage, after spending some $ 135 million unused doses.
The government has not finalized how much other Albertons will need to pay, but the estimated cost to purchase each shot is $ 110.
The province said that in June those who have compromised on the immune system, people on social programs and seniors in assembly settings will be covered.
Last week, the government pre-ordering for Covid-19 vaccine with flu shots. Albertons still need to book appointments for shots starting in October.
Those who do not pre-order from the September 30 deadline can still book an appointment once when the dose is available.
Details are still being finalized
However, the nuances of eligible health status for a free shot have not been released.
The office of Lagrange has stated that the details of the scheme are still being finalized-including the update vaccination schedule, eligible conditions, accurate places and administrative fees for Covid-19 vaccines.
Alberta Opposition NDP leader Nahhed Nanshi called upon the United Conservative Party Government to give shot at any cost to give shot to all seniors.
He said in a statement on Tuesday, “They continue to make it because they go together. Albertons are better than this incompetence and confusion.”
The province said that it has ordered 485,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine for the decline-about 250,000 less doses were given compared to the last year.
Ottawa Kovid -19 vaccine policy changes
The federal government placed the provinces in charge of buying the Kovid -19 shot this year, but Alberta’s Kovid -19 policy makes it an outsider.
The province has stated that local pharmacies will no longer get the supply of covid-19 shots, which will be available only through a public health clinic through a phased distribution.
The government has said that from the new perspective, it will help to know what to order in the coming years.
Public health care experts have also stated that the province’s Covid-19 strategy will create more obstacles in vaccination and also create the cost of high health care systems, as more people develop serious complications.
Critics have also stated that the rollouts will limit the access to rural residents, shift workers and others except for pharmacies who rely on community-based care. The National Advisory Committee of Canada on vaccination recommends that all adults get 65 or more and health care workers.
Routine influenza vaccines are publicly covered.
