Despite this season's COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in Alberta starting earlier this week, some local pharmacists say a limited supply of the vaccines is constraining what they can offer.
Nicole Schettler, the pharmacist and owner of Nicole's Pharmacy in Tudor Glen said her pharmacy only received half of the vaccines the store ordered, which means she can't offer walk-in appointments as planned.
“I ordered the maximum I was allowed to order on Monday and I think it was supposed to be 100 doses and they only sent me half of my order,” Schettler said on Wednesday morning, adding that pharmacists across the province can only order vaccines once a week.
“I'm in the fortunate position that I think we have enough doses for the people I have booked, but I can't do any walk-ins, I can't take anybody extra on until next week when I've got more in my fridge.”
Schettler said that on Tuesday alone she had to turn away three residents who went to the pharmacy looking for a walk-in vaccination.
Karen Moak, the pharmacist and owner of Mid-Town Apothecary in downtown St. Albert said her pharmacy has been fortunate to receive enough vaccines to handle their customer base, however a limited supply of the vaccines could be an issue in the coming weeks.
“This hasn't been an issue for our store, but I know that there is limited supply,” Moak said. “They're only allowing us to order a small amount each week I guess until they get the supply issues fixed.”
A spokesperson for McKesson Canada, the company that distributes the vaccines in Alberta, said the 100 dose maximum is a limitation put in place by Alberta Health, and that the company does have vaccines on hand for pharmacy orders.
“Ordering opened last week so there may have been an adjustment period or temporary gaps,” the spokesperson, Michelle Lee-Gracey said.
Pharmacists at both the Medicine Shoppe downtown as well as the Bellerose Compounding Pharmacy in Inglewood Towne Centre said on Wednesday that they weren't affected by the current shortage.
Looking ahead, Schettler said the planned roll-out of the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday could make a major difference in adding to the supply available for pharmacists to order.
"We did get an announcement (from Alberta Blue Cross as well as McKesson Canada) this morning that the Pfizer COVID vaccine will be available for orders starting Monday,” she said. “It sounds like Canada is getting a very limited supply of Pfizer and are leaning more on the Moderna product at this time, but some supply of Pfizer's coming next week, and I'm hopeful that the pipeline will fill up and I'll be able to order and get 100 doses next week.”
“You really hate to turn somebody away when they come in for a vaccine,” Schettler said.
Matt Tachuk, the Alberta Pharmacists' Association' director of pharmacy practice said in an email that the shortage is caused by a number of factors, including increased demand on-top of a limited supply to begin this year's vaccine roll-out.
“We fully expect that as the days and weeks progress the supply chain for vaccine should improve and Albertans will be able to receive their vaccination in due course,” Tachuk said. “It is important for the public to understand that community pharmacists are doing their best to book appointments and provide vaccination services with the products they are able to receive.”
Tachuk said another factor causing the shortage was the need for a new vaccine to target the currently dominant COVID-19 variant, Omicron XBB.1.5. As well, Tachuk said, Health Canada's approval of the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine occurred later than expected, and at different times for different manufacturers, which delayed the vaccine's arrival in Alberta.
“The current supply of COVID-19 vaccine is a mix of brands but predominantly the Moderna product with some limited supply of Pfizer now becoming available for order by community pharmacies just this week,” Tachuk said.
“Pharmacies will be offering whatever COVID-19 vaccine they have in stock and will advise individuals seeking vaccines accordingly.”
