Albertans Struggle to Book COVID-19 Vaccines as Demand Surges

EDMONTON, Alberta — Some Albertans are frustrated as they struggle to book COVID-19 vaccinations amid a surge in demand. The province’s fall immunization campaign opened to the general public on Monday, leading to a flood of inquiries. By late afternoon, Health Link reported receiving over 10,000 calls specifically regarding the COVID vaccine.

Booking for phase one of Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccination program began on September 29 for high-risk groups, including those with underlying health conditions, seniors receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit, and healthcare workers. Phase two, which opened on Monday, offers the vaccine to all residents aged six months and older for a fee of $100. Flu shots, available at no charge, were also opened to the public.

Elizabeth Smythe, a senior from Edmonton, expressed her disappointment after attempting to book her vaccine online with no success. “How dare you try and make it hard for me to get vaccinated? This is a sensible, cost-effective way to protect our health care system and keep people healthy,” she said.

Airdrie resident Cyrena Raymond-Fauteux faced similar challenges while trying to book appointments for herself and her four-year-old child. Appointments for children under 12 must be made through Health Link, but Raymond-Fauteux was unable to get through after multiple calls. “I think they’ve made this a barrier to get these vaccines,” she said.

In a statement, Primary Care Alberta confirmed that the health information line was experiencing high call volumes due to the immunization campaign. As of noon on Monday, Health Link received a total of 10,346 calls regarding COVID-19 vaccines and 1,458 related to flu shots.

Spokesperson Nicole Merrifield urged residents to retry calling later or to book their immunization appointments online. She also mentioned that Health Link has extended staff coverage to handle the increased demand.

Despite the challenges faced, Raymond-Fauteux noted that many Albertans are eager to get vaccinated, signaling the need for the government to prioritize public health access. “Making it a difficult process to just book your vaccine adds unnecessary barriers,” she said.