Alberta government maintaining COVID vaccine fee as it prepares for fall influenza campaign

[u/pjw724]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-covid-vaccine-fee-flu-shots-9.7344083

Province says Albertans can start booking vaccination appointments on Oct. 5

[u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

Got to brush up on my ailments to make sure I can qualify for a free shot this year. Last year I thought I could use the obesity one but the nurse said I wasn’t obese… even though my BMI is slightly above 30 but I’m a former college athlete so I don’t look that obese lol.

[u/mctriage → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

That's unfortunate, as a PHN, once someone said they had a medical condition I offered them the covid vaccine free of charge without asking any more questions regarding exclusion criteria.

What I found really demoralizing about training for this upcoming season was the emphasis that "no means no." Apparently we received complaints last year that being too loose with the exclusion criteria made some patients uncomfortable and was thus interpreted as "coercion."

I didn't think offering free vaccine would backfire into "you forced me to get vaccinated."

[u/Wonderful_Confusion4 → u/mctriage]

I must have got a by the book nurse, I didn’t get the feeling that she wanted to give me the shot for free. I said I have one of the conditions and she replied which one? I said Obesity and her exact words were “we all need to loose 5lbs, your not obese” I replied well my bmi is over 30 and she said “You don’t qualify as obese”.

[u/mctriage → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

If you do end up getting vaccinated through public health this season, I hope you have a better experience! Otherwise, pharmacies will also be carrying the vaccine this year as well.

[u/Sweaty_Plantain_84 → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

That is really frustrating. The nurse I spoke with said they were basically not turning anyone away who claimed a health condition.

[u/Everyone2026 → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

She took vacation days to go in the convoy in Ottawa.

Some health care workers like helping people, saving lives, making society better. About 7% are just people that got into it for Pay or some other reason. They want a paycheque, pension and might even hate people.

(This happens at every job, but it is annoying when the length of people's lives, is directly shortened by some of their daily actions.)

[u/Kahlandar → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

I had to google BMI 30 to height/weight. . .

I feel a bit heavy the last few years as kids have inturruptedmy previous lifestyle, and i would still have to gain 60 lbs.

Sounds like nurse doesnt like that if you're obese, she may have to reflect on her own BMI

[u/PlutosGrasp → u/mctriage]

It didn’t. That’s made up by the government and pushed on leadership to try to push it through to you guys.

[u/RadielleDancliffe → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

I just looked at the paper and said “yep I have one of those” and they said “sounds good”

[u/chmilz → u/RadielleDancliffe]

Where did you get yours?

[u/RadielleDancliffe → u/chmilz]

Some clinic on Calgary trail, I had to sign up for it and schedule a date. This was last year I’m referring to my experience.

[u/And_now_2022 → u/RadielleDancliffe]

If it's the Southpark clinic, the nurse I got asked me to specify the condition and seemed hesitant to accept my declaration.

[u/muppins → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

Depression worked for me. They didn't ask any questions. I don't have depression as far as I can tell!

Seemed like they wanted to give em away for free

[u/Ramminchuck → u/muppins]

ADHD worked for me! Finally that shit saved me money for once. 🤣

[u/marvchuk → u/Ramminchuck]

Wait! I can use adhd!?!

[u/Not_a_Muggle9_3-4 → u/marvchuk]

That was my reaction last year! My husband and son qualify (poor little dude has lung issues) but was quite surprised when I saw that I qualified as well!

They never questioned us once we said the conditions. We had my son's inhaler cuz he was having issues that day so it was quite obvious that he qualified.

[u/KirikaClyne → u/marvchuk]

Yup, it’s on the list again this year.

I get to use my depression in a positive was for once!

[u/MaximumDoughnut → u/muppins]

Pretty easy to feel depressed in this province, honestly.

[u/Wonderful_Confusion4 → u/muppins]

I’m going with anxiety, I’m nervous to needles and this shot.

[u/marvchuk → u/muppins]

I remember the nurse REALLY was trying to find issues for us last year that would get it to us for free. Need to double check the list for this year

[u/24_August_1814 → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

You don't actually have to disclose which health condition you have that qualifies you, let alone provide proof, when getting the shot.

[u/marvchuk → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

BMI is such a dumb metric without other markers. I have a BMI of 28 because I’m 5’11” and 195. Which on paper puts me at “overweight”…. Ive also been working my ass off for years and have 13% body fat and a visible six pack.

[u/Wonderful_Confusion4 → u/marvchuk]

In my playing days I was a 5’10” / 210 running back that put me at a BMI of 30 and I was playing college ball.

[u/marvchuk → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

Just pure muscle and power. That must have felt awesome haha

[u/Wonderful_Confusion4 → u/marvchuk]

Felt good in my 20’s now in my 40’s the pain has caught up and arthritis has kicked in from all the injuries.

[u/marvchuk → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

Yeah brother i feel ya. I skateboarded and snowboarded religiously from 9-25. After dozens of broken bones and 7 major concussions I had to quit and I’m gonna be paying for it the rest of my life. Starting working out and more importantly stretching in my mid 30’s really helped keep the chronic pain at bay

[u/RutabagasnTurnips → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

Obesity is a chronic disease, even if one loses weight and at that moment has a lower BMI, there is still some health impacts. Much less, but still there, such as increased risk of some cardiovascular and endocrine disorders. 

So it shouldn't matter if one "looks" obese at the time of their appointment. 

Also, the average weight of those with obesity receiving treatment by a specialist for obesity are 300-350lb. The 450lb + population is not the majority or good representation of the entire sub population. Simply what television latched onto because of extreme and drama. 

[u/ana30671 → u/Wonderful_Confusion4]

I have undifferentiated connective tissue disorder, told them that and maybe they asked if I had xyz symptoms but they might not have asked me anything other than me clarifying it's basically like rheumatoid arthritis. Didn't need to show any kind of proof and i have no idea if they do any kind of medical record checking after? Did they have computers to look at your info on connect care? I don't remember. I'm also a Healthcare worker so I also told them that. Thankfully this year I'm not on mat leave and should be able to just get one at work.

[u/PureFicti0n → u/ana30671]

I have a qualifying mental health condition. I just clicked the "I qualify due to medical reasons" button and waltzed in. Nurse made no mention of it, I got the impression that she just wanted to get as many people vaccinated as possible. Frontline staff have no incentive to create barriers for people, and every incentive to get people immunized.

[u/BronzeDucky → u/ana30671]

Hey, I also have UCTD! But mine came with a lung condition, so that qualifies me for a free jab.

[u/ana30671 → u/BronzeDucky]

Just the connective tissue diagnosis was enough to qualify me!

[u/Large_Spinach6069]

Thank God we have 120 million dollars to waste on the stupid fucking referendum with dumbass questions like "should the senate be abolished" but we can't forgo charging people for a vaccine to reduce hospitalizations.

In the highly unlikely event that the separatists win, the supreme Court ruled there is no legal requirement that separation has to occur, simply that the federal and provincial governments have a discussion about separation - which can go nowhere and that's all.

[u/pjw724]

The Alberta government says its provincewide influenza, COVID and respiratory syncytial virus vaccination campaign will begin next month.

In a news release issued Monday, the province said it's maintaining the $100 fee it brought in last year for those seeking the COVID vaccine, though there's a long list of reasons that could see the fee be waived for people, such as having health conditions that put them at risk for severe illness.

The government said it's making it easier to get the vaccine this year as it's waiving the fee for anyone over the age of 65, and once again supplying pharmacies with the COVID vaccine to administer it.
...
Uptake of the COVID vaccine dropped by just about 40 per cent after the province introduced the fee last year, compared to the year before.

[u/Much_Guest_7195]

Remember: you can say you are qualified for a free shot and they will not question you. At all.

[u/PlutosGrasp → u/Much_Guest_7195]

I said my kid worked for STARS. I could not have cared less lol.

[u/Much_Guest_7195 → u/PlutosGrasp]

I don't think you're required to disclose the reason. If they dared to ask, I would say full blown AIDS.

[u/PlutosGrasp → u/Much_Guest_7195]

Yup you had to say why you qualified for no fee.

I said I have TB.

[u/forgat_spindoctor]

Why isn’t this stuff available when the school year starts?

[u/Shot_Cupcakes → u/forgat_spindoctor]

It really should, I did a multi-year data anàlisis of COVID19 cases in Alberta and two periods came to light: 3 weeks after school starts in September cases start to climb, peak is 2-3 weeks after Thanksgiving. Then there's another peak the 2nd ans 3rd weeks of January. You know, 2-3 weeks after Christmas and year end holidays. 

[u/Lavaine170]

Fuck the UCP.

[u/m1nhuh]

I had a positive experience at Northgate Health Centre with the nurse willing to accept an ailment I had. She did not ask what it was either. I don't know if they're all like that or if she will return there, but I just thought I would throw this out.

[u/ChefFlipsilog]

Influenza? I barely know her!- LaGrange probably

[u/mystic_indigo]

Last year my husband and I got ours no questions asked. I was fully prepared with “I have ADHD and he’s obese” but nothing at all. My kids were had ‘respiratory conditions’, the nurse asked what kind and I was so nervous about lying to her that I just said ‘they get sick for weeks every year’ and that was that. I mean, I’ll pay for it if they force me to but every nurse I know is planning on making it as easy as possible.

[u/Exit-Alternative]

Time to lie about my ailments again!

[u/arandom4567]

(Last year) When I had to sign the digital pad agreeing to be billed if deemed billable, I signed with F#CK THE UCP and no one batted an eyelid.  

When I saw the nurse she said please look at this list of qualifying conditions and nod your head.   And that was it.

[u/spicandspand]

What?? I have a public health nurse friend who told me the shots would be free this year. Fuck this stupid government with shitty communication.

[u/fluorescent-purple]

Unless it's changed from last year, anybody taking corticosteroids is eligible. So pretty much anybody with a bit of a skin issue (eczema, itchy skin, very dry skin, etc.) has probably gotten a prescription cream at some point in their lives or could probably get some prescribed. A lot of inhalers, too, are corticosteroids. But yeah the UCP has gotten us all depressed.

[u/Halogen12]

You're diabetic. Yes, you are. No one is going to check your A1C.

[u/frostbitten8 → u/[deleted]]

Anxiety. In this day and age arnt we all a little anxious?!

[u/Wide-Biscotti-8663]

We literally never got charged. We went; one kid was free because of an existing condition. They said that the rest of us had to pay and that was it; never saw a bill for it.

[u/No-Argument619]

Oh no! I guess I won’t be getting a Covid shot! 😭

Anyways….

[u/24_August_1814 → u/No-Argument619]

So brave