Some Alberta pharmacists say they’re having trouble getting enough stock of COVID-19 vaccines

Calgary pharmacist Randy Howden was set to help administer COVID-19 vaccines to some 250 seniors Friday. But only days before, he says he learned his allocation of doses was cancelled. 

Howden, who owns several Calgary Medicine Shoppe pharmacies, isn’t sure when he’ll get the supply to give those seniors their shots.

“The problem that we’re seeing is meeting the demand. We’re not getting enough vaccine shipments to us to meet the demand that is there,” he said. 

This fall, unlike last year, the province is allowing pharmacists to give out COVID shots. Like last year, the shot comes at a cost of $100, unless the patient is eligible to get it for free, such as if they are 65 years or older, a health-care worker or have an underlying medical condition. 

The province rolled out COVID-19 vaccines Oct. 19, but told pharmacies in the days leading up that they could start administering doses early if they had supply to do so.

Howden says generally his pharmacies will see highest demand in the first two to four weeks vaccines become available. 

Initial allocations of doses were distributed based on estimates of past demand, he said.

This year’s system sees pharmacists put in their orders weekly, with their orders staggered on different days to spread things out, said David Brewerton, pharmacy manager of Luke’s Drug Mart in Calgary’s Bridgeland neighbourhood.

But Brewerton says his pharmacy got one third of what it ordered last week, and only about a tenth of what it ordered this week. 

The pharmacy manager at Luke’s Drug Mart in Bridgeland says his pharmacy can’t offer COVID-19 shots to walk-in patients right now due to supply limits. (Luke’s Drug Mart)

Normally, his pharmacy would offer walk-ins, but he says they’re only able to handle appointments for COVID vaccines this season. And even then, he says they have not been able to fulfill all of their bookings.

“We don’t know until we actually get the vaccine how much we’re getting,” Brewerton said.

“I don’t really know the ins and outs of what they order and how they plan it, but it’s certainly in that sense failed this year.”

Both Howden and Brewerton say there have not been issues getting enough flu shots.

Province says there is no shortage

The Alberta government, however, says there is no shortage of COVID-19 vaccines in the province.

In a statement, the ministry for Primary and Preventative Health Services said more than 450,000 doses have been ordered already this season.

The ministry is working to get vaccines where they’re most needed, and said it will “redistribute additional supply within the province to the communities where there is highest demand.”

Howden says he understands it can be a challenge to match supply with demand when it comes to vaccines, but says it has still been a frustrating situation for him and his staff. 

“It looks bad on us, but it’s out of our control,” said Howden.

According to the ministry’s statement, around 157,000 Albertans have received a COVID-19 vaccine this season.

The province’s respiratory dashboard tracks COVID-19, RSV and influenza cases so far this respiratory season, which began Aug. 30

It lists 668 lab-confirmed COVID cases this season, with 148 patients hospitalized, eight ICU admissions and six deaths.