Some Albertans face appointment cancellations for COVID vaccine just days after program launch
Less than a week into Alberta's COVID-19 immunization campaign, there are concerns the rollout isn't keeping up with demand. A limit on XBB.1.5 vaccine distribution means some people are facing cancelled appointments. Alberta's COVID-19 immunization campaign has been hit by cancellation cancellations just days after its launch, due to a limit on vaccine distribution. The province's new XBB.1.5 vaccine, which began its rollout on Monday, has been met with concerns that it isn't keeping up with demand. Some patients are facing cancelled appointments due to increased transmission rates and health-care workers are on the rise as number of Albertans with COVID doubles. Alberta pharmacies are only allowed to order only 100 doses a week for now. The limit is in place for 14 business days, but initial limits are set to ensure an equitable distribution across the province and limit waste. However, the province is cautioning there is no shortage of the XBB1.4 vaccine.
نشرت : منذ عامين بواسطة Jennifer Lee في Health
Less than a week into Alberta's COVID-19 immunization campaign, there are concerns the rollout isn't keeping up with demand.
The updated XBB.1.5 shots started going into arms on Monday, but a limit on vaccine distribution means some people are facing cancelled appointments.
Jessy Roos, a pregnant Calgarian and mother of four, was eager to her updated COVID vaccine. She was worried about rising transmission rates.
"I especially don't want to put my baby at risk," Roos said.
She was booked into a Calgary pharmacy for an appointment on Friday but received a text the day before calling it off.
"It's really frustrating. It feels like it shouldn't be this difficult to take care of myself," she said.
"We love personal responsibility in this province and I'm trying to take all the personal responsibility to protect myself, and the process to do that is just unreasonably difficult at this point."
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Alberta pharmacies are allowed to order only 100 doses a week, for now, according to Alberta Health.
At the Crowfoot Medicine Shoppe in northwest Calgary, pharmacist and owner Randy Howden says that's enough to last him about a day.
"Having to tell people that we don't have a vaccine for them has been very frustrating," said Howden, who is also president of the Alberta Pharmacists' Association.
"It would be really nice if there was a process in place where pharmacies could apply for additional vaccine doses and justify their needs and be able to get an extra allocation."
According to Howden, the impact of the cap will vary depending on the store.
"For busier pharmacies, it has a huge impact. Not having enough vaccine means we're not able to book as many appointments as we would like to to help meet the demand that's there in the community."
Pharmacy manager Mathieu Giroux already has over 200 people on his waitlist.
"So at 100 a week, that's still another two full weeks of people that are on standby right now," he said.
"The demand that we're seeing for this round of COVID vaccine is definitely higher than previous booster rounds."
The province is cautioning there is no shortage of the XBB.1.5 vaccine.
"However, initial limits are placed to ensure an equitable distribution across the province and to limit waste," Alberta Health spokesperson Andrew Livingstone said in an emailed statement.
"Pharmacies should be booking appointments to meet their on-hand supply. We understand that some pharmacies over-booked."
The limit is in place for 14 business days, according to the province.
"Those pharmacies offering the vaccine to Albertans should make sure they set up their appointment availability based on their supply to ensure they aren't having to cancel appointments," said Livingstone.
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Meanwhile, one of the main distributors, McKesson Canada, said it now has both the Moderna and Pfizer formulations in stock.
"The Moderna vaccine has been available since ordering opened last week. There may have been initial or temporary delay as we received first shipments and distributed allocation in real time," a statement reads.
"The Pfizer COVID vaccine is available for order as of [Thursday] and pharmacies should receive delivery this week."
According to McKesson, if a pharmacy requires more vaccine than the allocated amount, it should contact Alberta Health.
The province did not say if it is making exceptions.
Noting the limits are in place for both COVID and influenza vaccines, it said demand is not higher than expected, and, starting next Thursday, it will share data on doses administered through its respiratory virus dashboard.
المواضيع: Coronavirus, Calgary