Latest news with #SarahHoffman
Global News
2 hours ago
- Health
- Global News
Alberta surpasses 1,000 measles cases, AHS warns of potential exposures in Edmonton
Health officials in Alberta warn measles transmission is ongoing and as of Friday, the total number of confirmed cases this year has now surpassed the 1,000 mark. According to the measles page on the Alberta government's website, 1,020 measles had been confirmed as of noon on Friday. The majority of the cases (681) have been in the South zone. Since the province's last update, however, the North zone saw the most new cases with 14. Story continues below advertisement Upon Alberta's surpassing 1,000 cases, Opposition health critic Sarah Hoffman called on the provincial government to increase vaccination rates and to improve efforts to promote public health. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The good news is there is an effective vaccine available to all Albertans,' she said in a statement sent to media outlets. 'Please call 811 to ensure your vaccines are up to date; if they aren't, you can get an MMR booster which could save your life.' 2:08 Alberta doctors concerned over impact of no full-time chief medical officer of health One person is currently hospitalized with measles in Alberta at an intensive-care unit. 'Most reported cases have been in children under five years old and those aged five to 17 who are not immunized,' according to the provincial government's website. 'Cases have been reported in all zones of the province, with the highest numbers in the north, south and central zones. Story continues below advertisement 'Due to the number of people in these areas who may not be immune to measles, it's likely that some cases are going undetected or unreported.' On Thursday, Alberta Health Services advised it has been notified of a person who has been confirmed to have measles in the Edmonton zone and who was at a number of public places in the provincial capital over the last few days. A list of the places the person visited in Edmonton can be found on the AHS website by clicking here. Health officials warn that anyone who was at one of the locations at the times specific, or who was born in or after 1970 and has less than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine, could be at risk of developing measles. 'Measles cases are increasing globally, with numerous countries and travel destinations reporting outbreaks including Canada, the United States and Europe,' reads a post on the provincial government's website. 'Measles is a virus that spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Measles is sometimes called rubeola or red measles.' Measles has already spread to more than 3,000 people across the country this year. More than 2,000 of those infected are in Ontario. For more information on measles in Alberta, you can visit the AHS website by clicking here. Story continues below advertisement –With a file from The Canadian Press
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Healthy Albertans will have to pay for COVID-19 vaccine next fall
Albertans who are not immunocompromised or dependent on social programs will have to pay out-of-pocket for the COVID-19 vaccine this fall. Article content The Alberta government's policy change was meant to cut down on waste and minimize costs, it said in a statement released late Friday afternoon. Article content Article content Vaccines will only be available at public health clinics, the release added. Community pharmacies will no longer be administering the vaccine. Article content Article content The vaccine program this fall will be rolled out in four phases. Article content Article content The second phase will see those with underlying medical conditions, immunocompromised, living in congregate living accommodations and/or on social programs get access to the vaccines, free of cost. Article content 'In previous years, we've seen significant vaccine wastage. By shifting to a targeted approach and introducing pre-ordering, we aim to better align supply with demand — ensuring we remain fiscally responsible while continuing to protect those at highest risk,' Alberta's Primary and Preventative Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said in the release. Article content The third and fourth phases will make the remaining vaccines available first to healthy Albertans aged 65 and older and lastly to other residents looking to be immunized. But the vaccines will come at a cost, the release stated, although the final price has not been determined as yet. Article content Article content For the 2025-26 season, approximately 485,000 doses have been ordered to support the targeted COVID-19 immunization program. Article content More than one million COVID-19 vaccine doses were wasted last year, according to the government, amounting to 54 per cent of Alberta's order or $135 million worth of vaccine inventory. Article content This year, the province is encouraging Albertans to pre-book their appointments starting August 11 through the provincial vaccine booking system. Article content Sarah Hoffman, the Alberta NDP's health critic, called the change 'dangerous', 'callous' and 'anti-public health.' Article content 'It's cruel for the UCP government to put further financial burdens on Albertans who want to protect their health and their loved ones and not get COVID,' she stated in a statement released on Friday, responding to the change. Article content She criticized LaGrange as a 'terrible health minister who lost control of her department' and the UCP government as 'creating more chaos.' Article content
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Albertans to pay out-of-pocket for COVID-19 vaccines under new provincial plan
The Government of Alberta will roll out a four-phase COVID-19 immunization program, shifting vaccine costs to residents, except for select vulnerable groups. The province says this marks a shift from federal to provincial responsibility, aiming to reduce waste and manage costs. But critics, especially from the NDP , have blasted the change as 'callous' and 'anti‑science.' Why the shift? Ottawa procured COVID‑19 shots since December 2020. Now, provinces are tasked with doing that, just as they handle flu shots. Alberta ordered about 500,000 doses this year, far fewer than last, for roughly $49 million. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold Container Homes in National Capital Region - Prices You Won't Believe! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Officials observed more than 1 million doses were wasted last season, over half of its order, equating to roughly $135 million in unused inventory. The province estimates each dose costs about US$ 110, based on US Centers for Disease Control data. Although the final price won't be announced until closer to rollout, residents in phases 3 and 4 will likely pay around that much. Live Events The four stages of the program The program unfolds in four stages: Phase 1 : Free for seniors in supportive living and home‑care clients. Phase 2 : Free for immunocompromised individuals, those with chronic conditions, residents in congregate settings, people on programs like AISH or income support, and the homeless. Pha se 3: People aged 65+ pay full cost. Phase 4 : All other Albertans must pay full cost. Importantly, vaccines will no longer be available at pharmacies, only through public health clinics. Residents can 'signal intent' via the provincial booking system, with appointments opening in early October. Sarah Hoffman, NDP minister for health, reacted sharply: 'It's cruel for the UCP government to put further financial burdens on Albertans who want to protect their health and their loved ones' adding it's 'dangerous… callous… anti‑science' and that the government should promote vaccines instead. Meanwhile, Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health, defended the move: it reflects a 'fiscally responsible' approach to align supply with demand, reduce waste, and prioritize high-risk individuals. Alberta still covers routine vaccines, including flu, measles, and HPV, but COVID‑19 now moves toward a more market‑driven model. Variant‑updated mRNA vaccines remain recommended for those aged 6 months and up, particularly seniors, the immunocompromised, and Indigenous people, who qualify for biannual doses until April 17, 2025.
Global News
7 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Alberta to begin charging residents a fee to get the COVID-19 vaccine
Albertans who want to continue to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus will have to pay out of pocket for it, the province announced late Friday afternoon. Since December 2020, the federal government had been looking after procuring and buying the vaccines, which the Public Health Agency of Canada said was unique to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other routine immunization programs — which are paid for by provinces and territories. This year, the COVID-19 vaccine procurement process shifted from a federal role to provincial and territorial procurement process ahead of the fall 2025 respiratory virus season, to align it with other how other immunizations are delivered for diseases that are endemic around the world, such as the flu. As a result of the federal change, the Alberta government is passing the cost onto most Albertans who want to be immunized. Story continues below advertisement 'It's cruel for the UCP government to put further financial burdens on Albertans who want to protect their health and their loved ones and not get COVID,' said Sarah Hoffman, the Opposition NDP shadow minister of health. 2:14 Critics push back against Alberta COVID-19 vaccine report The vaccines will still be covered by the province for select groups of high-risk individuals such as seniors, people who live in congregate living, those with underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised, and Albertans who require social support such as AISH or are homeless. In addition to adding a fee, in most cases the COVID-19 vaccine will only be available through public health clinics and pharmacies will no longer be administering the vaccine. While the province said work is underway to determine what the final cost will be per vaccine, it noted the U.S. Center for Disease Control estimates a cost of $110 per vaccine dose. Story continues below advertisement 'The cost to taxpayers for the COVID-19 vaccine should not exceed $49 million, much of which will be offset through cost recovery in phases 3 and 4,' the province said in its news release, explaining the COVID-19 vaccine program will be rolled out in four phases, beginning with the highest-risk groups and gradually expanding to include more Albertans over time. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Phase 1: Provincially-funded vaccines will be available free to residents of seniors supportive living accommodations and home care clients. Phase 2: Provincially-funded COVID-19 vaccines will be available free for Albertans six months and older with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems, or in congregate living accommodations, and Albertans on social programs (i.e. AISH, income supports, and individuals experiencing homelessness). Phase 3: COVID-19 vaccine will be available to all Albertans 65 years and older, who will be required to cover the full costs of the vaccine. Phase 4: All other Albertans, who will be required to pay the full cost. In making the announcement on Friday, the government pointed out the U.S. Federal Drug Administration in the United States — which is headed by longtime anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — recently stopped recommending routine COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and healthy children. However, following that announcement, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada said COVID-19 vaccination 'remains safe and strongly recommended' during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. In January, the UCP government released a controversial report that called on the province to halt the use of the COVID-19 vaccine. Story continues below advertisement The report was commissioned shortly after Premier Danielle Smith swept to power in late 2022, promising to redress the COVID-19 grievances of her supporters. However, critics lambasted the report calling it a 'a sad document — that lacks significant credibility.' 2:29 Health Matters: Gynecologists recommend COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, while breastfeeding The province said starting Aug. 11, eligible Albertans will be able to signal their intent to receive the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines by pre-ordering through the Alberta Vaccine Booking System. After that, they'll get a text or email reminder to book their immunization appointment in early October. When Albertans book their immunization appointment for fall/winter 2025-26, the province said they can also pre-order their vaccine for 2026-27. The province said in the 2023-24 respiratory virus season, a total of just over one million COVID-19 vaccines — 54 per cent of Alberta's order that year — went unused. Story continues below advertisement Now that the province is paying to procure vaccines, it said it's important to better determine how many vaccines are needed to support efforts to minimize waste and control costs. 'Based on the Center for Disease Control costing estimates of $110 per vaccine dose, this means that about $135-million worth of vaccines were never used and were discarded,' the province's news release said. 'If the UCP government was really interested in eliminating waste and protecting the health of Albertans it would be promoting vaccines,' Hoffman said in her statement. 'That way the supply would get used and we would keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "That way the supply would get used and we would keep ourselves and our loved ones safe." 13:02 Health Matters: Why June is a good month to check your kids vaccine status and other immunization questions For the 2025-26 season, the Alberta government said about 485,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been ordered. Story continues below advertisement Estimated budget costs for the 2025-26 season are approximately $2 million for RSV and $19 million for influenza, Primary and Preventative Health Services (previously Alberta Health) said. Alberta still covers the cost of almost all other routine immunizations such as the ones that protect against influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, chickenpox, pertussis (whooping cough), HPV and meningitis. It also covers RSV shots for seniors. Albertans already pay out of pocket for some some vaccines such as those recommended for travel purposes, such as the Twinrix vaccine for hepatitis A and B, and the shingles (Shingrix) vaccine.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Albertans to start paying for COVID-19 vaccines after province changes immunization program
Many Albertans will have to start paying for a COVID-19 vaccine this year. In a press release Friday, the Government of Alberta said it was reducing eligibility for publicly-funded immunizations for the virus. The province said just over 1 million COVID-19 vaccines were wasted in the 2023-24 respiratory virus season, equating to 54 per cent of Alberta's order that year. It said the decision was made in response to changes to the federal vaccine procurement process earlier this year, which made provinces responsible for buying their own vaccines. 'Now that Alberta's government is responsible for procuring vaccines, it's important to better determine how many vaccines are needed to support efforts to minimize waste and control costs,' release said. The new vaccine program will roll out in four phases. During the first, only residents in senior's supportive living and home care will be able to get a vaccine for free. The second phase will open provincially-funded COVID-19 vaccines to people with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems, people living in congregate living accommodations, people on social programs like AISH or income support or people experiencing homelessness. In the third and fourth phases, all other Albertans starting with those 65 years old or older will be able to purchase a vaccine. Sarah Hoffman, Alberta NDP shadow minister for health, released a statement calling the decision 'callous' and 'anti-science.' 'It's cruel for the UCP government to put further financial burdens on Albertans who want to protect their health and their loved ones and not get COVID,' Hoffman said in the release. 'If the UCP government was really interested in eliminating waste and protecting the health of Albertans it would be promoting vaccines. That way the supply would get used and we would keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.' The province did not give a timeline for the rollout of the new program and did not specify when Albertans would stop being able to get a free COVID-19 vaccine or booster. Anyone who would like a COVID-19 vaccine can pre-order one starting Aug. 11. The province said it doesn't know yet exactly how much a dose will cost but estimates it will be about $110. CTV News Edmonton has reached out to the health minister's office for more information.
