SSilver / Depositphotos.com
Alberta teachers warn paid COVID vaccines will endanger schools and public health
EDMONTON — The Alberta Teachers’ Association is calling on the provincial government to reverse its decision to end free COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, warning that the move puts students, teachers and the wider community at risk of renewed outbreaks of a potentially deadly disease.
The decision will require most Albertans to pay out of pocket for the vaccine, a policy educators and health unions say creates dangerous barriers in high-contact environments like schools. With teachers and students spending their days in crowded classrooms where viruses spread easily, the ATA says removing free access to COVID-19 vaccination is both short-sighted and harmful.
“Classrooms are inherently crowded, high-contact environments, and we have witnessed first-hand how rapidly COVID-19 can spread in such settings,” the ATA wrote in a letter to the province. “Making vaccines less accessible will only increase the risk of outbreaks that jeopardize student learning and staff safety.”
The concern comes as new legislation, known as Bill 27, makes it more difficult for schools to close in the event of a health emergency. During the height of the pandemic, Alberta schools were closed for more than 110 days. The ATA says that without universal access to vaccination, it will be harder to keep classrooms safe while avoiding another wave of disruptions to education.
Medical experts agree. The Alberta Medical Association and United Nurses of Alberta have also raised strong concerns, warning that charging for vaccines will reduce uptake and expose vulnerable populations to greater risk. Dr. Shelley Duggan, president of the AMA, called the policy unclear and counterproductive, saying it places unnecessary barriers in front of those who need protection most.
Currently, COVID-19 remains a vaccine-preventable disease. Teachers fear that without free access, some parents may delay or decline vaccinating their children, increasing the chance of spread within schools. The ATA argues that leaving classrooms unprotected not only threatens the health of students and staff, but also undermines public confidence in the province’s commitment to safe, uninterrupted learning.
The Association is urging the government to maintain public funding for COVID-19 vaccines and ensure they are easily accessible to all Albertans. They say the decision is about more than cost. It is about protecting lives, preserving learning, and acting on the lessons of the pandemic.
Comments