Daniel Smith: Many Albertans will have to pay for COVID-19 vaccine
Alberta Premier Daniel Smith has defended the provincial government’s decision to charge many citizens $100 for the COVID-19 vaccine. He said the move is aimed at preventing the huge cost of vaccines from being wasted.

Smith stressed that the vaccine will be free for high-risk groups such as seniors over 65, residents of long-term care facilities, people with compromised immune systems, patients with underlying conditions, the homeless and health care workers. But everyone else will have to pay for it themselves.

He explained that due to low demand last year, more than $135 million in vaccines were wasted in Alberta, and about $284 million in unused vaccine has been thrown away over the past three years.

The decision has been met with backlash. “This policy is wrong and must be repealed immediately,” Alberta NDP Leader Nahid Nenshi said in a statement.

In contrast, the provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba have announced that the COVID-19 vaccine will continue to be available free of charge to all Canadians, including Albertans.

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