COVID-19 vaccine house calls coming from pharmacists in Waterloo region

Some pharmacists in Waterloo region are preparing to go into people's homes to administer the COVID-19 vaccine if people are unable to get out to a clinic.

Tamara Daharu is the pharmacist at Emerald Pharmacy Remedy Rx in Cambridge and she says there's been fewer walk-ins for the vaccine in recent weeks so the pharmacy has signed up to offer at-home visits.

"Patients can contact us by calling us or online requesting a visit if they're unable to come to the pharmacy," she said in an interview. "It would be pretty much providing a service to patients who wouldn't otherwise have access."

She said many people don't realize pharmacists can go out into the community to help people and this is an opportunity to show that. She says some people may not be hesitant, but rather, physically getting out to a clinic or pharmacy is a challenge.

"The majority, like 99 per cent of people we meet, are really happy to get the vaccine, happy to have easy access through online booking or just walking in,"she said.

"They've been receptive of how easy it's been, whether through pharmacies or even through public health, to get their vaccine. So it's been a positive response. There's maybe one or two who have to get it for work, but the majority are just happy to help move things along."

Pharmacists who want to provide in-home vaccinations must apply to the Ministry of Health for approval and then be inspected by regional public health. Once approved, the province will provide vaccines to the pharmacies to give the doses to people in their homes.

'Interest just plummeted'

Kelly Grindrod, a pharmacist and associate professor in the school of pharmacy at the University of Waterloo, says there are concerns some Moderna doses at pharmacies in Waterloo region could expire in the next month as fewer people are getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

"[Pharmacists] were doing dozens to well over 100 doses a day in the early part of July. So they have [the vaccine] sitting in the fridge and then the number just plummeted. Interest just plummeted with very little notice," Grindrod said.

"What you've got is a whole bunch of pharmacies who have dozens, hundreds of doses in their fridges, that expire after a month in the fridge. So that means that they have to use these doses or these doses will be wasted."

Some of the issue is that the region has already reached a lot of people: 80 per cent of people 12 and up have their first dose of the vaccine, while nearly 60 per cent have their second dose.

She says there's also been concerns raised by people about the Moderna vaccine specifically because of health officials being misquoted or people being concerned mixing and matching doses could impact future travel plans.

Demand 'has really gone down'

Neil Malhotra, the pharmacist at Apothecare Pharmacy on Park Street in Kitchener says he's also seeing fewer people coming in to get the vaccine lately.

"Overall, the vaccine demand has really gone down," he said, noting he does have some doses set to expire in mid-August. "It's unfortunate for sure."

He said in order to do house visits, right now there needs to be a valid reason the patient cannot leave their home. As well, with each vial of the vaccine containing 14 doses, it wouldn't make sense to do just one or two visits, potentially wasting the other doses.

Malhotra says they've tried promoting the vaccine on social media, but he finds he gets the best results either by talking to people in person or by phone. He said he's talked to other patients or customers who have indicated they know someone hesitant to get the vaccine. He's told people to send those who are hesitant to him and he can talk to them, but the response tends to be, "I'll try" and the customers don't seem to have much hope of getting vaccine hesitant people into the pharmacy.

Daharu says she, too, wants to ensure her stock of Moderna gets into arms and hopes to connect with people.

"Everyone's just trying their best to get everyone vaccinated right now," she said. "Pharmacies in general are still looking to use up their vaccines, as is probably the Waterloo region, if there's any way we can facilitate access, we're here to help out that way."

Region offers vaccination bus, drive-thru clinics

Pharmacists are just another way health officials in the region are hoping to reach people who have yet to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Wednesday, a vaccination bus will hit the road and travel to pockets in the community where there have been a high number of cases of the virus, but uptake of the vaccine has been lower than other areas.

As well, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. there will be a drive-thru vaccination clinic at Bingemans in Kitchener. There are no appointments necessary for first doses.

The region is also starting to partner with local employers to set up mobile vaccination clinics.

In a tweet through the region's account, Trent Hilpert, president of Piller's, said he was "proud" the company was hosting a clinic.

The region also continues to run regular clinics at the Boardwalk in Waterloo, a location on Pinebush Road in Cambridge and at the Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener. There are no appointments needed for people requiring a first dose of the vaccine.