Alberta immunization policy

Overview

The 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

The Immunization Regulation:

• 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 Immunization FAQs for more information

AIP documents

All current Alberta Immunization Policy 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)

Diphtheria Antitoxin

• Diphtheria Antitoxin (equine) (PDF, 34 KB)

dTap

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis Combined Vaccine (PDF, 58 KB)

dTap-IPV

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Polio Combined Vaccine (PDF, 60 KB)

DTaP-IPV

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Polio Combined Vaccine (PDF, 54 KB)

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)

• Influenza Vaccine Quadrivalent Inactivated 2018–2019 (PDF, 61 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/TdP

• Tetanus and Diphtheria Combined Vaccine (PDF, 56 KB)
• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio Combined Vaccine (PDF, 74 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

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.

• Alberta Vaccine Storage and Handling Policy for Provincially Funded Vaccine
• Working with Temp Tale (TT4) Monitors (PDF, 83 KB)
• Vaccine Shipment Monitor Form (PDF, 44 KB)

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 Break Report Form (DOCX, 4.3 MB) and send to your Alberta Health Services Zone for review.
• Learn more on the Alberta Health Services Vaccine Storage and Handling webpage
• Alberta Health Services contacts and zone maps

See the Immunization Regulation for specific timeline parameters for reporting of temperature excursions (cold chain breaks).

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 2018 to 2019
• Influenza Vaccine Quadrivalent Inactivated 2018 to 2019 (PDF, 61 KB)

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

Policy for pharmacists providing pertussis (dTap) vaccine for pregnant women

Alberta Blue Cross Benefact website

Pharmacy providers – Communications/Benefacts

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

Contact

Contact the Ministry of Health’s Nurse Consultant for Immunization:
Email: health.imm@gov.ab.ca
Fax: 780-422-6663