Pharmacists Decry ‘hurdles’ Facing Albertans Who Want A Covid Vaccine

Changes to nan Alberta government’s COVID vaccination plan this twelvemonth mean galore Albertans are facing agelong waitlists and a hefty measure to get their shot.

With nan government-run programme only offered done nationalist wellness clinics and galore of those clinics experiencing agelong waits, immoderate Albertans are choosing alternatively to spell to their section pharmacist to get immunized — arsenic they person done successful erstwhile years.

“I deliberation successful erstwhile years pharmacies did specified a bully occupation handling nan COVID shots, and now I’m conscionable proceeding nan vexation of group that are waiting and booking into December,” said Jason Chan Remillard, a pharmacist astatine Northmount Pharmasave.

Residents tin book their immunizations either by contacting their section nationalist wellness aliases organization wellness centre, booking online utilizing Connect Care, aliases by calling Health Link astatine 811 — if they tin get though.

“We are getting a batch of nan calls because they can’t get done to 811.  They’re calling, they’re connected clasp for a agelong clip and past conscionable getting hung up on,” added Remillard.

In an effort to effort to thief group having problem getting their shots astatine nan nationalist clinics, immoderate pharmacists person been trying to acquisition COVID shots done a wholesale supplier.

But pinch astir 50 to 60 group connected his waiting database who want a COVID shot, Remillard said location aren’t capable disposable to meet nan demand.

“Every time I spell connected my wholesaler, I look and spot if there’s immoderate disposable and there’s ever a reddish X saying there’s nary available. This morning, I conscionable went connected early greeting and I sewage a notification that location was some, but I was only capable to bid 10,” said Remillard.

In connection email to Global News, Pfizer, 1 of nan makers of nan COVID vaccine, confirmed it “has implemented impermanent allocation measures to thief negociate proviso and guarantee equitable distribution crossed pharmacies and wholesalers.”

“We expect further inventory to get soon and are advancing shipments to Canada to thief meet demand. Our extremity is to return to normal ordering arsenic quickly arsenic possible,” added nan statement.

In a abstracted connection to Global News, Alberta’s Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services, insists “there is nary shortage of publically funded vaccines,” and nan proviso issues betwixt pharmacies and their suppliers “are abstracted from nan authorities program.”

“Alberta’s authorities does not play a domiciled successful backstage procurement aliases distribution; pharmacies must activity straight pinch their suppliers to reside immoderate proviso challenges,” adds nan statement.

But Randy Howden, a pharmacist pinch The Medicine Chest, said nan costs of nan vaccine is besides a problem.

While immoderate Albertans are eligible for a free vaccination, including group pinch compromised immune systems and seniors surviving successful a congregate setting, others who person nary underlying wellness conditions are being forced to salary — retired of their ain pouch — betwixt $100 astatine a nationalist vaccination session to $155 astatine immoderate pharmacies.

“Vaccines are a spot a crime of opportunity,” said Howden.  “We want to make it arsenic easy arsenic imaginable to person nan vaccine erstwhile nan diligent is looking to person it.

It’s a opposition from years past wherever Albertans could easy get immunized, pinch aliases without an appointment.

“It’s benignant of created almost for illustration a two-tier wellness attraction system,” said Remillard, “Where those who tin spend to salary that spot other will travel to a drugstore to get nan shot.”

Despite nan complaints from pharmacists, Alberta’s Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health claims nan number of doses of nan COVID vaccine administered this twelvemonth “is successful statement pinch past year’s levels” — 131,584 doses successful nan first week of nan vaccination run this twelvemonth compared to 164,514 doses during nan aforesaid play past year.