Dear Traveller, "No needles for you. Come back February, maybe."

Listening to the voice message and waiting on the phone you are finally talking to a booking agent. Then you are told we are full. We are booked six weeks in advance. Plus, we are low on many vaccines. We have shortages on Hep A, Hep B, Twinrix (Hep A and B combined), Rabies, Bexsero (Meningitis B), and Shingrix (Shingles) as of the date of this post.

Next, is the assessment fee charged even if you do not get any needles. Let's repeat, you pay $48 per person per appointment, and you will not get a single travel vaccine. The problem is the booking agent cannot tell you if you will get vaccines or not because we are not qualified to give health information.

Example, you are online, saw a great deal and now you are going to Mexico or Cuba at the last minute, and you are lucky because you booked your children an appointment. You take time off work, and you pull the kids out of school. You drive downtown, you park, you pay for parking, you find the fourth floor north tower and check-in. Receiving information and tips on food and water precautions and how to travel safely, but no needles. You pay $96. The above scenario is the norm.

We are public health, and it is our mandate to provide Albertan's with education. A lot of the time we can update free vaccines like the flu and tetanus this is critical. All Albertan's must be protected and safe. We value teaching and knowledge and your health.