Breakenridge: Why has province been so unwilling to talk about measles vaccines?
Article content
Article content
In between, of course, Deena Hinshaw — much like her provincial and federal counterparts — became a household name. That's not the norm, nor should we want it to be. But our level of familiarity with top health officials should be a byproduct of circumstances, not political preference.
Article content
Article content
It was very much a matter of political preference when Premier Danielle Smith fired Hinshaw as CMOH as one of her first acts as premier. Dr. Mark Joffe was subsequently appointed interim CMOH, a position he held for more than two years before finally bowing out earlier this month.
Article content
Article content
It remains to be seen whether the new interim CMOH will be any more visible or vocal than his predecessor. Based on Joffe's tenure, that seems unlikely. With a worsening measles outbreak in the province, though, that is less than ideal.
Article content
Barely a day goes by now that we aren't hearing about new measles cases and potential public exposures to the virus. Alberta's outbreak isn't the worst in North America, or even Canada, but it's highly concerning.
Article content
Article content
As the measles case count has continued to climb — now well over 100 — Alberta's CMOH has been conspicuously absent. There were no public news conferences and no interview requests granted. The province maintained that Joffe was closely monitoring the situation and it was being largely handled by local health officials in affected areas.
Article content
Article content
It's reminiscent of the E. coli outbreak that occurred in Calgary in 2023. It wasn't until we had well over 200 cases linked to that outbreak — including more than two dozen hospitalized children — that the CMOH was finally allowed to appear at a news conference. It was 10 months into his appointment as CMOH and his first public appearance.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
9 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Saturday's letters: Is UCP against Albertans with disabilities?
Article content As a parent of an adult with Down syndrome, we are very familiar with AISH. My daughter works part-time, volunteers and participates actively in art and sports programs. She is also an AISH recipient. AISH is essential for her financial needs, dental needs and diabetic needs. What AISH doesn't cover, family does. Article content The $200 Canada Disability Benefit is a very nice supplement to the existing AISH income. It will help with expenses which AISH doesn't cover. This federal government gesture is meant to supplement, not take away from any existing provincial programs for persons with disabilities. Article content Article content Article content Article content Kudos to Keith Gerein and his description of crowdfunding, especially his note '… it's nice to see an innovative attempt to have the public directly contribute to the revitalization without relying on corporate or government millions. And if it works, perhaps that can be a model to re-energize other meaningful properties in the city.' Article content Article content I heartily agree, especially now that the province has reopened the possibility of salvaging the old provincial museum and is accepting proposals into September. If a crowdfunding opportunity arose to help save the old RAM, I, for one, would gladly contribute. I am sure many others would too. Perhaps it's not too late to save that beautiful, old building. Article content Pat Holt, Edmonton Article content Our previous premier, Jason Kenney, valued Albertans' health and lives sufficiently that, in the fall of 2021, his UCP government actually provided vaccine-hesitant Albertans with a $100 debit card to undertake one or even two COVID-19 vaccinations, typically (and conveniently) at their neighborhood pharmacy. Article content In striking contrast and just four years later, it appears that our current premier, Danielle Smith, places much less value on Albertans' health and lives. Her UCP government plans, in the fall of 2025, both to charge us a significant price (likely more than $100 each) for our COVID-19 vaccinations and to require that those of us who find this affordable to book our COVID-19 vaccination appointments, in advance, at a small number of often-inconveniently-located public health clinics.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alberta audit suggests patients paying clinic membership fees get more thorough care
EDMONTON – An audit of Alberta medical clinics charging membership fees found no significant cases of patients paying out of pocket for covered medical treatment but paying members are likely getting more thorough care. The province launched the audit in 2023 in response to concerns over a Calgary medical clinic switching to a membership model and planning to charge annual fees of about $5,000 for families and $2,000 for an adult. Ads promised patients shorter wait-times and extended appointments but experts warned membership fees would create a two-tiered health system benefiting those who can pay. Health Canada at the time said a membership system was contrary to a federal law protecting people from paying for medically necessary care, as it meant Albertans were paying for preferential access to doctors. A two-page summary of the audit, which reviewed 13 clinics, says physicians in the clinics saw substantially fewer patients than other doctors and members seemed to get longer and more comprehensive appointments than non-members. 'Membership clinics averaged 232 new patients per physician, compared to an average of 965 in public clinics,' the report says. 'Members of these clinics receive more service units per visit, suggesting longer or more comprehensive appointments than those provided to non-members.' The report, published earlier this week, says that there was 'no evidence that physicians were incentivized to prioritize members over non-members.' There was also no evidence to suggest the clinics were intentionally breaking the law by charging patients for what should be free medical care, it says. Although four of the clinics provided insured and uninsured services only to members. Uninsured services aren't covered under public health plans and include doctor's notes and forms and certain cosmetic procedures. The report doesn't say how much the clinics charged for memberships or where they're located. It says three provide primarily virtual services, 'one of which requires payment to access an online platform where both insured and uninsured services are delivered.' The report makes policy recommendations for the province to ensure clinics are more regulated and to address grey areas where patients get insured and uninsured services during the same appointment. 'Although clinics generally understand the distinction between insured and uninsured services and the importance of avoiding extra-billing, some overlap is difficult to rule out, as uninsured allied health services may be delivered during visits that also include insured services,' the report says. The office of Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange says in a statement the province is reviewing the recommendations and legislative changes are possible. 'Membership clinics operate as private businesses within Alberta's publicly funded health system, with physicians working as independent contractors under approved compensation models,' the statement reads. 'We're pleased the audit found no significant non-compliance and no evidence that anyone is being charged for insured services.' LaGrange's office didn't specify what changes are being considered. University of Calgary health law professor Lorian Hardcastle said she found the report underwhelming in detail and that it doesn't address paying for preferential access to physicians. 'Some of these clinics advertise not just that you get quicker appointments but that you can get after-hours appointments,' Hardcastle said. 'You're paying for the after-hours call, but if the thing you're calling about is … just a regular medically necessary issue, then you are getting better access to care for your medically necessary issues, which I think is problematic in terms of the legislation.' 'The government didn't seem, in the report, all that concerned about what they found.' Health Canada is responsible for enforcing compliance with the Canada Health Act, and Hardcastle said the agency needs to be 'holding the province's feet to the fire.' The act allows Ottawa to claw back funds to provinces through health transfers, if provinces allow providers to charge patients for medically necessary or covered services. Health Canada said in a statement that it has been in contact with Alberta about its audit and reiterated that patients paying membership fees to get preferential access to care raises concerns. 'Health Canada is reviewing the recently released report and will continue engaging with the province to ensure that (patients) do not face patient charges to access medically necessary services,' the statement reads. Dr. Luanne Metz, an Opposition NDP legislature member, said the report's recommendations for clearer and enhanced regulations are important, but without more details the severity of the situation is unclear. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'This report shows you that there are things going on that need, at the minimum, monitoring. But ideally we just need to fix it so people get the public health care that they need,' she said. Metz also said the audit's findings are contradictory, as it says clinics weren't intentionally charging patients for insured care, even though it found four only provided services to members. 'It's pretty hard to reconcile that if you only can be a member to get those services,' she said. LaGrange's office said it wasn't making the full report public as it contains 'operational and proprietary information.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025.
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
COVID concerns arise as vaccine becomes unavailable for some until fall immunization program
The mother of a one-year-old is concerned there is no available COVID vaccine for her daughter. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual The mother of a one-year-old is concerned there is no available COVID vaccine for her daughter. Her baby has started daycare, increasing the risk of spread. 'They are making it very hard for parents to ensure that their children can be healthy in this province,' said Shuhiba Mohammad. 'It makes me feel a little helpless.' Health Canada has only approved the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine for children under age 12. Andrew Livingstone, director of communications for Primary and Preventative Health Services, provided CTV News with a statement: 'The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine remains available for eligible individuals 12 years of age and older until July 31, 2025. After that date, it will no longer be administered as Alberta prepares for the rollout of the new COVID-19 vaccine formulation this fall,' the statement read. 'Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is currently unavailable across Canada, as all remaining doses have expired. It is expected to be available again in the fall 2025/26 immunization program for individuals six months of age and older.' Mohammad says she really wants to avoid having a very sick child. 'I would love for her to have some immunity so that her body can fight against COVID if she happens to get it before she can get immunized in the fall,' she said. In a previous announcement, the province said it is pausing the COVID immunization program as of Aug. 1 and wants to order the vaccine that offers protection against the latest strain. Starting Aug. 11, eligible Albertans will be able to register for a dose. The next step will be to book an appointment at a health clinic. The province will also charge a fee for doses, estimated at more than $100, but that may change. Health-care workers will also have to pay. The new vaccine program will roll out in four phases. During the first, only residents in seniors' supportive living and home care will be able to get a vaccine for free. The second phase will open provincially funded COVID-19 vaccines to people with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems, people living in congregate living accommodations, people on social programs like AISH or income support or people experiencing homelessness. In the third and fourth phases, all other Albertans starting with those 65 years of age or older will be able to purchase a vaccine. The mother of a one-year-old is concerned there is no available COVID vaccine for her daughter. The mother of a one-year-old is concerned there is no available COVID vaccine for her daughter. Health law experts are concerned the new program increases health inequity. 'There's a link between health and wealth, and those who are healthiest are also often able to afford these things,' said Lorian Hardcastle, assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary. Hardcastle says she's worried the new rules add barriers and confusion that will decrease vaccine uptake. 'I understand that politically, this is not a government that believes in pushing vaccines or incentivizing people to get vaccinated. But if you want medical choice and medical freedom, which this government has spoken a lot about, that should also be paying for vaccines for those who want them and want them for their children,' she said. Craig Jenne, a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary, is also concerned about Alberta's changes to COVID vaccine rollout. 'The lack of availability of COVID vaccines for Albertans under the age of 12 is both concerning and frustrating,' he said. 'Although COVID levels are currently low in the province, the virus is still out there and infection remains a risk. Kids may have underlying conditions, have at-risk family members or may be planning travel to COVID hot spots, yet are unable to receive vaccination. 'Last year alone, about three dozen children required admission to an ICU due to COVID, so this is not a harmless infection in children.'
