The Alberta government is facing fierce and mounting opposition to plans that will reduce access to publicly funded COVID-19 vaccines in the province

The province announced late on Friday that it will limit funding of the COVID-19 shots to very specific high risk groups, including Albertans living in care homes and group settings, those receiving home care, people on social programs such as AISH, and immunocompromised individuals.

Seniors living in the community, pregnant Albertans and health-care workers will have to pay out of pocket for the vaccine, along with the rest of the population.

The province estimates the cost at $110 per dose.

“My dominant emotion is sadness because of the people who are going to be affected by this misguided policy,” said Dr. James Talbot, a former provincial chief medical officer of health.

“This is saying if you want to prevent yourself from getting a serious illness and the serious consequences that go with it, if you have money you’re fine. If you’re a member of the working poor or a single parent family, you’re out of luck.”