Quebec toโ Endโ Free โฃCOVID-19 vaccines for General Population
Quebecโ will no longer offer free COVID-19โ vaccines to the general population starting this fall, following a similar decision made by Alberta โin August. The Quebec Ministry of Health based this decision on the advice of the province’s immunization committee at the Quebec Public Health Institute.
Officials cite widespread exposure to the virus and resulting immunity within the healthy adult population as justification โfor the change. Dr. โLuc Boileau, Nationalโ Directorโฃ of Public Health of Quebec, explained that the risk of complications from infection is now โค”very, very low” for those not considered high-risk.
though, free vaccination will continue โคto be available โfor specific groups, โคincluding individuals โคwith chronic diseases, those over 65, healthcare workers, pregnant individuals, immunocompromised people, and residents of isolated regions. Dr. โBoileau indicated that if vaccineโค doses remain after prioritizing โคthese groups, they may becomeโข available to the general public at no cost. โข
Theโ Ministry of Health emphasizedโ that vaccination โremains a personal decision based onโฃ individual risk factors, and they do not discourage it. The decision was also influencedโค by โฃthe federal โgovernment’s decision to discontinue funding for provincial and territorial COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, a move officials anticipated as a temporary measure related to the pandemic.
Vaccination in quebec is expected to begin inโ October.โค The province will continue to offer free flu vaccines this fall.
Other provinces, including Ontario,โ British Columbia, and Nova scotia, currently maintain their cost-covered vaccination plans. Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health,โข Michelleโฃ Thompson, stated that their program remainsโข unchanged for the current year.
The cost of a COVID-19 vaccineโ dose โin Quebec โpharmacies is expected to range between $150 and $180, depending on the pharmacy.Alberta reported approximately 401,000 unused vaccine doses โlast year, resulting in an estimated $44 โขmillion loss. Like Quebec, โAlberta continues to provide free vaccines to those most at risk, including individuals withโข health conditions and nursing staff.
With dataโ from Keith Doucette, Matthew Scace and Hannah โฃAlberga.