COVID-19 vaccine delays hit some pharmacies as Alberta's immunization launch nears

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.

• NDP accuses province of 'incompetence' as health officials aim to fill vaccine distribution gap
• No flu or COVID-19 vaccines for medical clinics as Alberta's fall immunization launch nears

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.

According to Chiew, online bookings are open and all of the company's 23 Alberta locations will be ready to start administering both shots on Tuesday.

"The stores are prepping them up right now to make sure they're actually ready to go." 

He said staff at stores in Calgary and Edmonton are starting to receive shipments or already have them in place.

Loblaws, which owns Shoppers Drug Mart, said it doesn't foresee a problem with beginning the immunization campaign on time, either.

• Alberta to cover pricey RSV vaccine for some older people
• Bookings open for COVID-19, flu and RSV shots for Albertans

The provincial government told CBC News it ordered 1.9 million doses of the updated COVID-19 shots.

So far, 840,440 doses have been delivered to pharmacy wholesalers.

But a spokesperson acknowledged there have been delays.

"Across the country, there have been delays in receiving COVID-19 vaccine shipments from the manufacturers," said a statement from the health minister's office.

"Alberta Health prioritizes the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine for outreach immunization providers in continuing care settings"

The province said three pharmacy wholesale distributors will have COVID-19 deliveries in place for the Oct. 15 launch of the immunization campaign.

However, shipments from one of the main distributors, McKesson, will take longer.

That distributor is expected to have its first shipments to pharmacies in place by the end of the week (Oct. 18), the spokesperson said, adding flu vaccine deliveries are not delayed.

CBC News reached out to McKesson for comment but did not hear back before publication time.

According to the provincial government, COVID-19 vaccine supplies usually arrive in stages over a six-week period.