COVID-19 on the upswing as concerns about Alberta’s vaccine coverage linger

Alberta doctor says she’s seeing more cases in hospital in recent weeks

Most Albertans will pay $100 for the COVID-19 vaccine this fall. The Alberta government has opted to provide it for free to a specific list of high-risk groups. Evan Mitsui, CBC

Jennifer Lee, CBC News Calgary September 10, 2025

COVID-19 appears to be picking up steam in Alberta and health experts worry a more restrictive provincial vaccination campaign could lead to a more intense respiratory virus season.

After a lull over the summer, Dr. Lynora Saxinger is now seeing more patients in hospital who are sick with COVID-19.

“Just more recently there are more cases. And the per cent positivity… does seem to be trending up as well, both nationally and in Alberta,” said Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.

The latest publicly available data shows Alberta’s positivity rates sat at 5.5 per cent as of late August, after slowly trending upwards over a number of months. And the Public Health Agency of Canada rates viral wastewater levels as “high” for Alberta.

South of the border, a number of U.S. states, including California, have experienced a recent COVID-19 surge.

Craig Jenne, the deputy director of the University of Calgary’s Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, said the Canadian uptick, while notable, is trending behind the levels experienced at this time last year and in 2023.

“But it is out there. It’s circulating. And in the last two to three weeks we have seen a notable increase in the number of people testing positive across the country,” said Jenne, who’s also a professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases.

He said it’s difficult to predict how big the surge could be, but the trend is clear.

“As school comes back in and people are gathering back indoors, unfortunately the virus is starting to circulate again.”

Dr. Lynora Saxinger is an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta. She says Alberta is ‘almost at a tipping point.’ Peter Evans, CBC

A bump in wastewater levels, according to Saxinger, can’t be tied directly to case numbers, but they can indicate there is more virus circulating.

Vaccine coverage concerns

The upswing, while not surprising, comes at a time when there are a lot of questions and confusion surrounding the Alberta government’s new, more restrictive COVID-19 vaccination program.

The province intends to charge the vast majority of Albertans, with the exception of a number of high-risk groups, $100 for the newly formulated COVID-19 shot this fall.

After being available at pharmacies in previous years, the vaccines will only be given out to the general public at public health clinics.

“That’s a huge worry, because even the people who ordinarily would go out and get the vaccine might be caught a bit short by the current system because they’re just not aware,” said Saxinger.

In addition, COVID-19 immunization rates have been declining in recent years.

“We can anticipate, unfortunately, lower vaccine rates this year, and we’re worried that that could lead to more severe disease burden in the community, ” said Jenne.

That could mean people with underlying health conditions become more seriously ill, he said. But it could also be felt across the larger population.

Craig Jenne is a professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary. He’s also the deputy director of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. Colin Hall, CBC

During the last respiratory virus season (2024-25), 405 Albertans died and 3,364 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19. There were 209 intensive care unit admissions.

“Even a small uptick in otherwise healthy people presenting at the hospital still represents a significant strain that we have to deal with in the health-care system,” said Jenne.

The Alberta government has faced fierce criticism from doctors for deviating from guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). It includes a strong recommendation that a number of key groups, including all seniors over the age of 65, get the vaccine. NACI also recommends everyone else may receive the shot.

Alberta has opted to provide the shots for free to seniors living in care homes and those receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit. Other groups with provincial coverage include people with underlying medical conditions and those who are immunocompromised, health-care workers and Albertans experiencing homelessness.

EXTERNAL | Who’s eligible for a free Covid-19 vaccine in Alberta

The Alberta government has said it ordered approximately 485,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses for the upcoming respiratory virus season and that it can order 20 per cent more if needed.

Jennifer Lee Reporter

Jennifer Lee is a CBC News reporter based in Calgary. She worked at CBC Toronto, Saskatoon and Regina before landing in Calgary in 2002. If you have a health or human interest story to share, let her know. Jennifer.Lee@cbc.ca

Source CBC News Calgary