COVID-19 remains a public health threat. Mandatory measures are in effect provincewide.
Overview
The Alberta Immunization Policy (AIP) contains a complete listing of publicly funded vaccines and biologicals, and indications for their use.
- The AIP is revised as new research and national recommendations become available –
- always reference the current version
- check this page regularly for updates
- Read the Canadian Immunization Guide for more information about immunization.
- Read Alberta’s routine immunization schedule
Immunization policy changes
The Alberta government has introduced new requirements that will standardize practices for all immunization providers, regardless of whether a vaccine is provincially funded or privately purchased
- requires health practitioners to report immunizations and assessments electronically to Alberta Health within a week – effective January 1, 2021
- requires health practitioners to report adverse events following immunization to Alberta Health Services within 3 days of becoming aware – effective December 17, 2018
- sets out requirements for the storage, handling and transportation of vaccines – effective December 17, 2018
The regulation will improve the effectiveness and responsiveness of Alberta’s immunization program and was supported by regulatory bodies and stakeholders involved in the consultative process.
Legislation
- Public Health Act
- Immunization Regulation
- Read more about the immunization regulation
- Immunization reporting by electronic means
COVID-19 and immunization
Immunization is one of the most important public health measures used to protect the health of Albertans. It is one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions.
Keeping your routine immunizations up-to-date is an important way you can help your community during the COVID-19 pandemic. This helps to protect your loved ones, vulnerable Albertans and reduce the burden on Alberta’s healthcare system.
Alberta Immunization Policy COVID-19 documents
- COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA) – Pfizer ultra frozen vaccine (PDF, 428 KB)
- COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA) – Moderna frozen vaccine (PDF, 422 KB)
- Alberta Vaccine Storage and Handling for COVID-19 Vaccine
- Active Surveillance and Reporting of Adverse Events following COVID-19 Immunization
Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services and the Canadian National Vaccine Safety Network (CANVAS) are working together to monitor the safety of vaccines in both Alberta and beyond. Albertans receiving the vaccine have the opportunity to be involved by participating in vaccine safety monitoring surveys after they have received their vaccine doses.
Resources for health care practitioners
- COVID-19 Vaccine – Questions and answers for health-care practitioners (PDF, 135 KB)
- COVID-19 Immunization: Guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Guidance document for influenza immunization during COVID
- Clarification of CMOH Order 05-2020
AIP documents
All current AIP documents are hosted on Open Alberta
AIP updates
- Table of AIP updates (PDF, 140 KB)
Introduction to AIP
- AIP Background (PDF, 53 KB) Federal leadership
- Provincial Mandate (PDF, 44 KB) legislative authority and provincial leadership
- Immunization Goals and Objectives (PDF, 62 KB)
- Eligibility Criteria for Provincially Funded Vaccine (PDF, 25 KB)
- Roles and Responsibilities (PDF, 309 KB)
- delivery of childhood immunization in Alberta
- immunization opportunities
- responsibilities of immunization providers
General principles
- Assessment Expected Prior to Vaccine Administration (PDF, 92 KB)
- Biological Considerations (PDF, 34 KB)
- Immunization of Individuals with Inadequate Immunization Records (PDF, 60 KB)
- Occupational Immunization Considerations (PDF, 61 KB)
History of immunization in Alberta
- History of biological administration in Alberta (PDF, 109 KB)
- Alberta immunization program changes (PDF, 203 KB)
Vaccine codes
- Vaccine Codes (Imm/Ari) (PDF, 48 KB)
Immunization schedules
- Routine Childhood Immunization Schedule (PDF, 71 KB)
- Infants: Routine Immunization Schedule (PDF, 66 KB)
- School Immunization Schedule (PDF, 52 KB)
- Adult Immunization Schedule (PDF, 52 KB)
- Immunization of Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Medical Conditions (PDF, 43 KB)
Biological products
Botulism
- Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (Equine) Types A to G (PDF, 33 KB)
- Botulism Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human): BabyBIG® (PDF, 25 KB)
COVID-19
- COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA) – Pfizer ultra frozen vaccine (PDF, 428 KB)
- COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA) – Moderna frozen vaccine (PDF, 422 KB)
Diphtheria Antitoxin
- Diphtheria Antitoxin (equine) (PDF, 34 KB)
dTap
dTap-IPV
DTaP-IPV-Hib
- Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Polio-Haemophilus influenzae type b Conjugate Combined Vaccine (PDF, 68 KB)
DTaP-IPV-Hib-HB
- Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Hepatitis B-Polio-Haemophilus influenzae type b Conjugate Combined Vaccine (PDF, 82 KB)
HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b Conjugate Vaccine (PDF, 46 KB)
Hepatitis A (HAV)
- Hepatitis A Vaccine (PDF, 60 KB)
Hepatitis A and B (HABV)
- Hepatitis A and B Combined Vaccine (PDF, 48 KB)
Hepatitis B (HBV)
- Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) (PDF, 49 KB)
- Hepatitis B Vaccine (PDF, 107 KB)
- Hepatitis B Virus Infection – High Endemic Geographic Areas (PDF, 33 KB)
- Hepatitis B Risk Assessment for Paid Workers/Volunteers/Students (PDF, 57 KB)
HPV
- Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: HPV 9 (PDF, 43 KB)
Immune Globulin (IG)
- Immune Globulin (Human) (PDF, 50 KB)
Influenza (Flu)
- Guidance document for influenza immunization during COVID<
- Clarification of CMOH Order 05-2020
- Influenza Vaccine Quadrivalent Inactivated (PDF, 50 KB)
- Influenza Vaccine High Dose Trivalent Inactivated (PDF, 46 KB)
MMR
- Measles-Mumps-Rubella Combined Vaccine (PDF, 91 KB)
MMR-Varicella (MMR-Var)
- Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella Combined Vaccine (PDF, 68 KB)
Meningococcal
- Meningococcal B Multicomponent Recombinant Vaccine (PDF, 51 KB)
- Meningococcal Conjugate (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) (PDF, 67 KB)
- Meningococcal Conjugate C Vaccine (PDF, 50 KB)
Pneumococcal
- Pneumococcal Vaccine, 13-valent Conjugate (PDF, 76 KB)
- Pneumococcal Vaccine, 23-valent Polysaccharide (PDF, 67 KB)
Polio
- Polio Vaccine (PDF, 74 KB)
Rabies
- Rabies Immune Globulin (Human) (PDF, 67 KB)
- Rabies Vaccine (PDF, 68 KB)
- Rabies Post-exposure – Authorizing and Obtaining Rabies Post-exposure Biologicals (PDF, 51 KB)
Rotavirus
- Rotavirus Vaccine (PDF, 59 KB)
Td
- Tetanus and Diphtheria Combined Vaccine (PDF, 56 KB)
- Tetanus Immune Globulin (Human) (PDF, 63 KB)
- Tetanus Post-exposure Prophylaxis in Injury/Wound Management (PDF, 87 KB)
Tuberculin
- Tuberculin PPD (PDF, 44 KB)
Typhoid
- Typhoid Vaccine (PDF, 52 KB)
Varicella
- Varicella Vaccine (PDF, 86 KB)
- Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin (PDF, 60 KB)
Special situations for immunization
- Hepatitis B (HBVD) Algorithm for Chronic Renal Disease (PDF, 58 KB)
- Immunization of Specific Populations (Immunosuppressed and Chronic Health Conditions) (PDF, 309 KB)
- Principles of Immunization in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Recipients and Solid Organ Transplant (SOT) Recipients (PDF, 72 KB)
- Immunization for Child HSCT (PDF, 145 KB)
- Immunization for Adult HSCT (PDF, 144 KB)
- Immunization for Child Expecting SOT before 18 months of Age (Accelerated) (PDF, 79 KB)
- Immunization for Child Expecting SOT after 18 months of Age (Catch-up and Ongoing Schedule) (PDF, 110 KB)
- Immunization of Adult SOT Candidates and Recipients (PDF, 86 KB)
Vaccine storage and handling
Cold chain storage and handling
The Alberta Vaccine Storage and Handling Policy for Provincially Funded Vaccine provides vaccine cold chain storage and handling management guidelines for Alberta immunizers who provide publicly funded vaccine.
Procedure for Alberta Health Services (all community providers excluding pharmacy)
Information on how to report a temperature excursion (cold chain break) is included in the Alberta Health Services Standard for Vaccine Storage and Handling (PDF, 380 KB)
- Complete the Alberta Health Services Cold Chain Excursion Report form (DOCX, 7.8 MB) and send your Alberta Health Services Zone for review.
- Learn more on the Alberta Health Services Vaccine Storage and Handling web page
- Alberta Health Services contacts and zone maps
See the Immunization Regulation for specific timeline parameters for reporting of temperature excursions (cold chain breaks).
Product problem form
Use the publicly funded vaccine product form (PDF, 2.8 MB) to report vaccine products that are faulty when received or noticed at time of administration. Reportable issues include:
- floaters or sludge in the vial
- unsealed packaging
- number of doses withdrawn from a multi-dose vial is fewer than the number of doses indicated on its label
- broken vial
- no label or an incorrect label
- faulty syringes
- white clip backstop is detached
Where possible, return the faulty product as outlined on the form.
Adverse events – immunization
The Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Policy for Alberta Immunization Providers document provides AEFI reporting guidance for Alberta immunizers. Data from AEFI reports contribute to provincial immunization program evaluation as well as to the national AEFI surveillance.
- Adverse Events Following Immunization Policy for Alberta Immunization Providers
- Report of Adverse Events Following Immunization (PDF, 174 KB) for AHS and FNIHB
How to report an Adverse Event Following Immunization
The Immunization Regulation requires health practitioners to report adverse events following immunization for all vaccines (provincially or non-provincially funded) to Alberta Health Services within 3 days of becoming aware.
Read the Alberta Health Services information on how to report an adverse event following immunization.
Influenza immunization
- Influenza Immunization Policy (PDF, 221 KB)
- Influenza Vaccine Quadrivalent Inactivated (PDF, 50 KB)
- Influenza Vaccine High Dose Trivalent Inactivated (PDF, 45 KB)
- Fluzone High-Dose Information for Health Professionals
Pharmacy immunization
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Immunization for 65 years of age and older
- Policy for Pharmacists Providing Pneumococcal Polysaccharide 23 Valent vaccine (PDF, 46 KB)
- Pneumococcal Decision Tree for Pharmacists (PDF, 113 KB)
Pertussis immunization in pregnancy
Vaccine storage and handling procedure for pharmacy
In the event of a temperature excursion (cold chain break) for both provincially funded and privately purchased vaccine, contact the manufacturer for viability determination.
- See the Immunization Regulation for specific timeline parameters.
Refer to the Alberta Vaccine Storage and Handling Policy for Provincially Funded Vaccine for information on vaccine storage and handling.
Reporting adverse events following immunization
The Immunization Regulation requires health practitioners to report adverse events following immunization for all vaccines (provincially or non-provincially funded) to Alberta Health Services within 3 days of becoming aware.
Learn more on how to report an adverse event following immunization
Alberta Blue Cross Benefact website
Alberta Pharmacists’ Association Professional Development Courses
Imm/ARI data submission guidelines
- Immunization Data Submission and Response Guidelines
- Adverse Events Following Immunization Data Submission and Response Guidelines
Contact
For clarifications related to the Alberta Immunization Policy, contact:
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 780-422-6663