Alberta’s COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Plummet as Government Policies Raise Alarms
In a startling development, Alberta has witnessed a dramatic 50% drop in the number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered this winter compared to the same period last year. But here's where it gets controversial: This decline coincides with the introduction of a $100 fee and other restrictive measures by the provincial government, sparking a heated debate about accessibility and public health priorities.
Between October 2024 and January 2025, nearly 480,000 COVID-19 shots were given in Alberta. Fast forward to the same period in 2025-2026, and that number has plummeted to approximately 230,000. Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare, a public health advocacy group, didn’t mince words when speaking to PressProgress: “It’s completely unsurprising, given the government’s approach to vaccination, that we would see a drop off. Everything they did in terms of their vaccine rollout for this year was designed to lower uptake.”
And this is the part most people miss: The United Conservative Party (UCP) government, led by Premier Danielle Smith, initially planned to charge even healthcare workers for COVID-19 vaccines, exempting only seniors in supportive living and immunocompromised individuals. While this decision was partially reversed in August following pressure from nurses’ and healthcare workers’ unions, the damage was already done. The $100 “administrative cost” at public health clinics remains in place, with additional charges possible at pharmacies. This has left many Albertans frustrated and, in some cases, traveling out of province to get vaccinated—a stark contrast to British Columbia, where the vaccine was made free to all Canadians visiting the province.
Gallaway highlights a critical oversight: “Alberta’s COVID vaccine rollout meant that [Indigenous people] could only get a free vaccine if you were getting it in your home community on a reserve. If you’re an Indigenous person living in Edmonton, you do not have access to free vaccination clinics.” Despite appeals to both federal and provincial ministers, the issue remains unresolved, with each level of government pointing fingers at the other.
The UCP has justified these measures by citing a $135 million cost in wasted vaccine doses in 2023-24. However, critics argue that this approach prioritizes cost-saving over public health, especially in a province already grappling with vaccine hesitancy—Alberta was the epicenter of Canada’s measles outbreak that led to the loss of our measles elimination status last year. Is this a case of penny-wise and pound-foolish?
Meanwhile, hospitals in Alberta are overwhelmed by a severe respiratory illness season, raising questions about the timing and wisdom of these policies. Peer-reviewed studies, including a recent global JAMA Network study, unequivocally demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccines save lives, averting an estimated 2.5 million deaths worldwide between 2020 and 2024. Yet, Alberta’s approach seems to contradict this evidence, with Premier Smith and her party repeatedly echoing anti-vaccine rhetoric since her 2022 leadership victory.
Quebec, the only other province to implement a fee for COVID-19 vaccines, has seen similar trends. There, the vaccine costs between $150 and $180 for most residents, with exceptions for healthcare workers, seniors, and high-risk groups. Like Alberta, Quebec is facing an early and severe respiratory illness season, compounded by a new measles outbreak. Santé Québec reports a drop in vaccination numbers, with 1.1 million doses administered this season compared to 1.4 million last year and 1.6 million the year before.
Here’s a thought-provoking question: Are these policies a reflection of a government prioritizing fiscal responsibility over public health, or are they a misguided attempt to appease a niche political base? Gallaway doesn’t hold back: “We have a government that’s anti-science and that is pandering to a very niche right-wing base that the Premier thinks she needs to keep happy, rather than looking at what’s best for Albertans or our health care system.”
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the consequences of these policies are far-reaching. What do you think? Are these measures justified, or is Alberta risking public health for short-term cost savings? Let us know in the comments below.
