Albertons can get Covid -19 vaccination for free in BC

Albertons who do not qualify for free Covid -19 vaccination in their home province can receive one in British Columbia.

BC’s Ministry of Health confirmed that detail in response to a query from CBC News. Canadian residents can be vaccinated due to a mutual agreement between all provinces and regions.

A statement from the Ministry said, “Any can be provided to any canadian in BC at any cost to travel within the province.” “This involves providing publicly funded Covid-19 vaccine to the people of Alberta.”

There are some restrictions. Albertons cannot do free vaccination in BC Pharmacies. They will also need to make an appointment and BC residents will have priority in clinics.

The statement said, “Non-BC residents should be prepared to wait for several weeks for the time for the appointment time available during the extreme of the Fall/Winter Kovid-19 vaccination program-any appointment is also available,” the statement says.

Alberta is the only Canadian province that will not provide free universal access to this decline for Covid -19 vaccines.

When the Alberta government first declared its policy in June, free access was limited to superiors in supporting life, people receiving house care, people with compromise immune system or underlying medical conditions, ash and income support and homeless people.

Other Alberton who want to get vaccinated will have to pre-revister. The cost has not yet been publicly disclosed, but the previous estimates of the province have placed each vaccination at $ 110.

Less cost

At an unrelated news conference on Thursday, Premier Daniel Smith reiterated his stand that the province’s policy is based on last year’s wastage.

He said that about 54 percent of last year’s Kovid dose had deteriorated due to lack of demand.

The federal government funded the purchase of vaccine over the years and 2025 is the first season province and the areas have to pay for their own vaccines.

This week, the province decided to expand Free covid vaccination to health care workers Which will be basically required to pay.

Craig Jane, a professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary, said the Kovid -19 vaccine has been approved by Health Canada and is recommended by the National Advisory Committee on vaccination.

Jane said that if the province wanted to save the waste, it could ask people to sign up for vaccines, but still presents it for free.

He said, “Additional steps such as pre-regulation reduce the vaccine uttake, but it will remove the financial obstruction for at least something and remove a very difficult decision for some families,” he said.

CBC News asked Smith why his government still cannot offer vaccine for free, while people still need to pre-registrar. Smith said that it comes down for cost.

“We are trying to reduce the cost because it is an expensive intervention,” Smith replied. “We do not pay 100 percent of the cost of each vaccine. So we are trying to align our view on Kovid with only the same approach that we are taking on RSV.”

RSV vaccine is also not free

Jane said that the offer of RSV vaccine, which the province also does not fund, may reduce the burden on the health care system, in addition to the Kovid -19 vaccination.

Other Priri Provinces are allowing all residents to receive covid vaccines for free.

Manitoba confirmed anyone with a valid Canadian health card that covid vaccination could be found, although the administrative fee could still apply.

With a valid Suskechewan Health-Care Card, all Suskechewan residents can get their vaccines for free.

A government spokesperson also confirmed that the resident of a city Loidminist, on the Alberta-Suskechewan border, is eligible for free vaccination from a Suskechewan Clinic, but did not say if other Alberton could get vaccines there.