Alberta immunization policy

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

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 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.

AIP documents

All current AIP documents are hosted on Open Alberta.

AIP updates

• Table of AIP updates

Introduction to AIP

• AIP Background Federal leadership
• Provincial Mandate legislative authority and provincial leadership
• Immunization Goals and Objectives
• Eligibility Criteria for Provincially Funded Vaccine
• Roles and Responsibilities
  • delivery of childhood immunization in Alberta
  • immunization opportunities
  • responsibilities of immunization providers
• Alberta Outreach Immunization Program

General principles

• Assessment Expected Prior to Vaccine Administration
• Biological Considerations
• Immunization of Individuals with Inadequate Immunization Records
• Occupational Immunization Considerations

History of immunization in Alberta

• Alberta immunization program changes

Immunization schedules

• Routine Childhood Immunization Schedule
• Infants: Routine Immunization Schedule
• School Immunization Schedule
• Adult Immunization Schedule
• Immunization of Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Medical Conditions

Biological products

Botulism

• Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (Equine) Types A to G

COVID-19

mRNA vaccines

• Moderna Spikevax
• Pfizer BioNTech

Other COVID-19 vaccines

• Novavax

COVID-19 resources for health care practitioners

• Allergy Pathways
• Management of COVID-19 vaccine administration errors and deviations
• World Health Organization Approved Vaccines

Diphtheria Antitoxin

• Diphtheria Antitoxin (equine)

dTap

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis Combined Vaccine
• Policy for pharmacists providing pertussis (dTap) vaccine for pregnant women

dTap-IPV

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Polio Combined Vaccine

DTaP-IPV-Hib

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Polio-Haemophilus influenzae type b Conjugate Combined Vaccine

DTaP-IPV-Hib-HB

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Hepatitis B-Polio-Haemophilus influenzae type b Conjugate Combined Vaccine

Ebola Vaccine

• Ebola Zaire Vaccine

HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type b)

• Haemophilus influenzae type b Conjugate Vaccine

Hepatitis A (HAV)

• Hepatitis A Vaccine

Hepatitis A and B (HABV)

• Hepatitis A and B Combined Vaccine

Hepatitis B (HBV)

• Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human)
• Hepatitis B Vaccine
• Hepatitis B Virus Infection – High Endemic Geographic Areas
• Hepatitis B Risk Assessment for Paid Workers/Volunteers/Students

HPV

• Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: HPV 9

Herpes Zoster

• Herpes Zoster - Shingrix Vaccine

Immune Globulin (IG)

• Immune Globulin (Human)

Influenza (Flu)

• Influenza Vaccine Quadrivalent Inactivated
• Influenza Vaccine High Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated

MMR

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella Combined Vaccine

MMR-Varicella (MMR-Var)

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella Combined Vaccine

Meningococcal

• Meningococcal B Multicomponent Recombinant Vaccine
• Meningococcal Conjugate (Groups A, C, Y and W-135)
• Meningococcal Conjugate C Vaccine

Mpox

• Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine
• Smallpox Antiviral (TPOXX)

Pneumococcal

• Pneumococcal Vaccine, 13-valent Conjugate
• Pneumococcal Vaccine, 23-valent Polysaccharide
• Policy for Pharmacists Providing Pneumococcal Polysaccharide 23 Valent vaccine
• Pneumococcal Decision Tree for Pharmacists

Polio

• Polio Vaccine

Rabies

• Rabies Immune Globulin (Human)
• Rabies Vaccine
• Rabies Post-exposure – Authorizing and Obtaining Rabies Post-exposure Biologicals

Rotavirus

• Rotavirus Vaccine

Tetanus

• Tetanus Immune Globulin (Human)
• Tetanus Post-exposure Prophylaxis in Injury/Wound Management

Tuberculin

• Tuberculin PPD

Typhoid

• Typhoid Vaccine

Varicella

• Varicella Vaccine
• Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin

Special situations for immunization

• Immunization Recommendations for Specific Populations (Immunosuppressed and Chronic Health Conditions)
• Hepatitis B (HBVD) Algorithm for Chronic Renal Disease

Immunization recommendations for transplant candidates and recipients

• Principles of Immunization in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) and Solid Organ Transplant (SOT) Recipients
• Child HSCT
• Adult HSCT
• Child SOT (before 18 months of age)
• Child SOT (after 18 months of age)
• Adult SOT

Cold chain storage and handling

The following policies apply to all Alberta immunizers who provide publicly funded vaccine:

• Alberta Vaccine Storage and Handling Policy for Provincially Funded Vaccine
• Alberta Vaccine Storage and Handling for COVID-19 Vaccine

Alberta Health Services Cold Chain resources

Information on how to report a temperature excursion (cold chain break) is included in the Alberta Health Services Standard for Vaccine Storage and Handling

• Complete the Alberta Health Services Cold Chain Excursion Report form and send to 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 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

Data from Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) reports contribute to provincial immunization program evaluation as well as to the national AEFI surveillance. The following reporting guidance is available for Alberta immunizers:

• Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Policy
• Active Surveillance and Reporting of Adverse Events following COVID-19 Immunization
• Report of Adverse Events Following Immunization for AHS and FNIHB
• Federal Vaccine Injury Support Program Information – New policy outlining the Vaccine Injury Support Program implemented in Canada December 2020 and is delivered independently of the Federal Government, with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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.

• How to report an adverse event following immunization to Alberta Health Services

Imm/ARI data submission guidelines

• Immunization and Adverse Reactions Following Immunization – Permissible Values
• Immunization Batch Data Submission and Response Guidelines
• Adverse Events Following Immunization Data Submission and Response Guidelines
• Reason codes by immunization phases for COVID-19 vaccine

Contact

Connect with us for clarifications related to the Alberta Immunization Policy:

Email: [email protected]
Fax: 780-422-6663