VACCINE RESOURCE COMMITTEE

of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association

View Full List of Vaccine Questions Here

General Vaccine Question #10:

Are doctors profiting from pharmaceutical companies and do they have a
conflict of interest to give patients vaccines?

There is no payment from pharmaceutical companies to physicians for administering, prescribing or recommending vaccines.

The majority of vaccination in Alberta is provided by public health centers, community centres and pharmacies, not administered in physician offices. The Alberta government does pay physicians for their time to provide advice, counselling and administration of vaccines for patients. For example, code 13.59V pays a physician $25 for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta has standards of practice describing obligations and responsibilities of a prescribing physician with regards to prescribing practices which would include vaccinations. Further, standards related to relationships with industry are explicitly described to mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest. For details on these standards, please see here.

Sources

Alberta Medical Association: Fee Navigator: Immunization and administration of COVID-19 vaccine
Alberta Health Services: Immunization: Book an immunization appointment
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta: Standards of Practice