I want to talk about the fact that people in #Alberta need to pay $100 and book an appointment for getting the covid vaccine now.

I want to talk about the fact that people in #Alberta need to pay $100 and book an appointment for getting the covid vaccine now. I've seen news reports talking about there being pushback about it, even protests apparently, but nothing specific. I also can't find any information about any efforts to organize any such thing. Even searching here on Mastodon has turned up very little in terms of people even talking about it. Yes, there's plenty of other problems we are having to deal with now, but this needs attention too. I haven't searched the mainstream social media sites as I'm not on them. Is there anything going on there?

I can't afford this fee, so to me that just says that our government doesn't care if I die or end up a burden on the health care system. This is punitive on poor people, not to mention adding risk to all other people, especially the immunocompromised.

I don't know what if any actions will have any effect, but we have to at least try. Who else is as upset about this as I am?

@murdoc
I think it's something that people will be far more upset about once it's time to actually pay the piper. I gather that numerous letters to the editor have expressed outrage. The UCP seem to be waiting until the last moment to actually announce the fee and the process.

@EllenInEdmonton @murdoc They have announced that it will be a $100 fee.
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans#vaccine

(And huh: the list of exceptions no longer seems to include people on government benefits, other than the seniors benefit.)

@AmeliasBrain @murdoc
Oh, and this is very interesting wording:
Individuals who are not considered to be at the highest of risk of severe illness from COVID-19 may still be able to access COVID-19 vaccine. A $100 administrative fee will apply.

The implication is that no vaccine will be available for folks who don't "qualify". I guess I'll ask my doctor to qualify me as obese, since I am, and that's considered to be a "serious medical condition" on their list.

@EllenInEdmonton @murdoc Yeah, the "may" seems to be mostly about "if there's supply available after the high needs people get theirs", but it's very vague.

And it's vague about how you will demonstrate eligibility for medical conditions. Is it just self-declared? How specific do you need to be?

And I really don't like that they're calling it an "administrative fee" when it's that high & mostly based on the actual cost of the vaccine itself. I'd bet that's because somewhere in a law or regulation it says it's OK to charge administrative fees for certain medical services even if not for the thing itself.

@AmeliasBrain @murdoc
Another interesting aspect of that medical list is that it includes mood disorders, ADHD, and "spectrum disorders, which include a huge portion of the Fediverse community! So, get your diagnoses lined up to be able to register for the free vaccine on October 1.

@EllenInEdmonton @AmeliasBrain
That's great for people who already have a diagnosis, but for me I was hoping to avoid one for all the downsides, especially if Alberta keeps going down trump paths.

Do you have to pay for diagnosis in Alberta?