COVID-19 vaccine delays hit some pharmacies as Alberta's immunization launch nears
CBC
Some Alberta pharmacies won't get their COVID-19 vaccine shipments in time for the kickoff of the fall immunization campaign on Tuesday, creating yet another hiccup in the program's rollout.
The Alberta government recently announced COVID and influenza immunizations would begin on Oct. 15.
As CBC News has reported, community medical clinics are not getting the vaccines because there is no distributor in place for those deliveries.
And now some pharmacies say they'll be waiting longer than expected for their initial shipments.
"If there's something the pandemic has taught us is that you should wait until it's in your fridge to really believe it," said Mathieu Giroux, pharmacy manager at Cambrian Pharmacy in Calgary.
He was expecting to have his first allotment of the COVID vaccine in house — and in refrigeration — by now.
He has the influenza vaccines already but he can't even order the COVID shots until next week.
"For the first week we'll have to do just flu shots and rebook everyone for a second appointment," he said.
It's a similar story at the Bridgeland location of Lukes Drug Mart.
"We don't have any. We were supposed to have it so we could start on Tuesday along with flu shots," said pharmacy manager David Brewerton.
Different pharmacies are allowed to order on different days, according to Brewerton, and he's expecting to be able to submit his order on Tuesday, with vaccines arriving on Wednesday.
Giroux's ordering day, on the other hand, is Thursday. So he's not expecting his first batch of COVID shots until Friday.
Larger chains, such as London Drugs, appear to be having better luck.
"We've been able to receive both vaccines," said Chris Chiew, vice-president of pharmacy and health care at London Drugs.
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