Forget COVID and influenza: Let’s just call it ‘fall immunization,’ Alberta tells its health authority

Documents obtained through an access to information request have revealed that the Alberta government instructed its provincial health authority to remove the words “influenza” and “COVID” from its fall immunization campaign advertisements.Replace “both influenza and COVID with just ‘fall immunization,” Chris Bourdeau, communications director for Alberta’s health ministry, wrote in a September 28 email to Alberta Health Services, according to an article in The Globe and Mail, which had made the access to information request.In another email Bourdeau said that: “The desire is to not indicate the types of vaccines available, just that they are.”The province also told AHS to wait until after the launch of the campaign to tell the public about the fall immunization program, and to limit information on vaccine benefits and efficacy.“Communication to the public can go after the public announcement which continues to be TBD,” Celine O’Brien, executive director of health and wellness for Alberta’s health ministry, wrote in an email.That message was a response to an email sent by Dr. Kristin Klein, the province’s lead medical officer for communicable disease control.“Specifically, do we need to wait for a public announcement to be able to (communicate) about the fall immunization program with stakeholders and the public? If so, we really need that to happen ASAP because we have not said anything about the XBB program in particular,” Dr. Klein said in a Sept. 14 e-mail. “We would be WAY behind the 8 ball if this waited until just before the public launch.”Read: Change for the sake of change? A look at what’s behind the choice to reorganize Alberta’s entire health systemSix days later, Wanda Aubee, an assistant deputy minister, warned in an email about increasing COVID cases in the province and suggested that a program “co-administering influenza and COVID-19 XBB (vaccines) is the most efficient and effective approach for all of us to achieve the public health outcomes.”The documents also showed that an executive director of communications named Shannon Shimek had raised concerns about increasing pressure on public health teams, frontline workers and the Health Link 811—Alberta’s health advice hotline—to provide information about fall immunizations.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been vocal about her opposition to public health measures such as vaccine passports and has promoted alternative treatments over vaccines.She has also blamed AHS for failures in the health system and recently appointed a new president and CEO shortly after firing six top AHS executives.Read: Smith says it wasn’t her decision to nix job offer to Alberta public health doctorCharlotte Taillon, press secretary to Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, said in a statement that AHS and the government work together to ensure “consistency of content.” She also said that the province has spent almost $516,000 on this year’s seasonal immunization campaign to date.“Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans have access to what they need to make decisions that benefit their ability to live a healthy life, including access to vaccines,” she said.Kerry Williamson, a spokesperson for AHS, said in a statement that this year’s campaign “used similar content and messaging” to that used in last year’s campaign.A September 28 government news release about booking for seasonal immunizations starting Oct. 10 made no mention of the new generation of COVID-19 vaccines. The Globe and Mail found that before being shared publicly, this news release underwent significant revisions that included the removal of details about vaccine eligibility, immunization locations by age group and the types of vaccines being offered and their efficacy against different strains of COVID-19 and influenza. Two lines that encouraged Albertans to book vaccination appointments were also deleted.Read: How much, you say? Severance pay for fired AHS execs could cost Alberta taxpayers millions

Forget COVID and influenza: Let’s just call it ‘fall immunization,’ Alberta tells its health authority

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics