By Chris Brown

Going to waiting list

Pharmacies out of AstraZeneca vaccine as eligibility expands

Apr 20, 2021 | 12:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Even before the first Albertan in the 40-55 age group was able to get their shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine today some pharmacies in the province had already run out.

Greg Bueckert of Greg’s Pharmacy says he’s booked the last of his supply and is now putting people on a waiting list.

“The government has thrown this open to younger people now, our waiting lists are already stupidly long,” he said. “I know some of the bigger places are well over a thousand people waiting at this point and now you have another segment of the population eligible and there’s no vaccines. It kind of defeats the purpose of allowing pharmacies to vaccinate when there’s no supply for them.”

A letter sent to pharmacies late Monday afternoon states that “with the increase in eligibility criteria for AstraZeneca vaccine, some pharmacies have now administered or booked their entire supply.”

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The letter goes on to say that since the next shipment of the vaccine to Alberta has not yet been scheduled, pharmacies can ask to be temporarily removed from the booking website until AstraZeneca vaccine supply is available. Ottawa is not expecting any shipments of AstraZeneca for at least a week.

Bueckert says that any appointments booked there are confirmed to get the vaccine

“We’ve made sure that if we book somebody in it’s definite. We’ve gone right down to the wire here. Now, all we can say is we’ll put you on a waiting list call you when we get product.”

Bueckert says the government’s decision to expand the eligibility for AstraZeneca is compounding the problem. He adds his phone doesn’t stop ringing from morning to evening.

“Our list is getting longer and longer and there’s already a backlog and then somebody in their wisdom, to me it’s political optics, announces that younger people can get this now, a new segment of the population is allowed and yet there’s nothing for them.”

He says pharmacists in the province are extremely frustrated and have been fighting with this province right from day one.

“It’s like one hand doesn’t know what the other’s doing in the provision here,” Bueckert says.

Walk-in spots at Calgary’s Telus Convention Centre clinic were limited on Tuesday, according to Alberta Health Services and some people reported being turned away.