EDMONTON — Yesterday afternoon, some of Alberta’s health care unions announced they had reached a deal with Alberta Health Services to ensure their members would be able to receive the COVID-19 immunizations free of charge on a voluntary basis. This is a change from the Alberta government’s previously announced COVID-19 immunization plan that tightly restricted access to free vaccines.

EDMONTON — As we head into mid-July, Alberta now has higher measles cases per capita than anywhere else in North America. Dozens of emergency rooms and health care facilities are experiencing closures due to chronic short staffing, while the government’s restructuring and privatization agenda continues to create chaos for health care workers and patients.

Late this afternoon, the Alberta government announced a new COVID vaccine strategy that includes restrictions on who has access, a new pre-ordering system and a shift to charging Albertans directly out of pocket for their vaccinations.

EDMONTON — Alberta has now recorded 710 confirmed measles cases, making this the worst year for measles since 1986, with no signs of slowing down. 75 percent of these cases have been in children under 18 years old.

EDMONTON — It has been three weeks since the Health Minister and the interim Chief Medical Officer of Health held a press conference to update Albertans on measles and the government’s planned response to a growing number of cases.

EDMONTON — With over 210 confirmed measles cases as of Friday afternoon, Alberta now has more measles cases than we’ve had in many decades. The vast majority of cases are in children. This morning, the Minister of Health announced a public campaign and steps for increased access to immunization in response to measles outbreaks in the central and south zones.

EDMONTON — Measles cases are growing in Alberta, with confirmed cases now in both major cities as well as the north zone, and one person already hospitalized. Doctors and public health experts are warning this is only the beginning of a very dangerous, very contagious virus, especially given the growing concerns about vaccination rates falling since the pandemic.

EDMONTON — The final report of the Alberta Pandemic Data Review Task Force was quietly released on Friday afternoon. The poorly written report has been widely condemned by health professionals and public health experts for lacking solid research references, repeating misinformation and discredited ideas and ultimately calling for a halt to the use of COVID-19 vaccines.

Winter has arrived while a record number of Albertans are living unhoused or without stable housing. The combination of cold weather and a lack of housing are already adding totally preventable pressures on to our hospitals, emergency services and health care system.

EDMONTON — This past Friday, the provincial government announced that they were shutting down the long-COVID outpatient programs, meaning that the clinics in Alberta dedicated to treating people suffering from long-COVID will be closing. The letter from Alberta Health Services informing patients of the closure suggests that they should contact their primary care provider to determine if they require additional resources. This at a time when over 650,000 Albertans are without a family doctor.