Province expanding access to free COVID vaccinationsBy MEDICINE HAT NEWS on August 4, 2026. Share this story:The province is broadening access to free COVID-19 vaccines starting this fall after introducing fees for most Albertans seeking the jab last summer. Starting Oct. 19, pharmacies will be able to oder and administer provincially-funded COVID-19 vaccines for eligible Albertans over the age of 12. The move made Alberta an outlier within Canada as the only province not providing free universal access to the vaccine. In April, the province expanded access by allowing high-risk groups to access a booster for free.