As several provinces get rid of their existing COVID-19 vaccine supplies to make way for updated shots expected in the fall, pharmacists and some doctors say the move raises questions about gaps in vaccine access and government messaging.
Officials in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec say they are following a directive from the Public Health Agency of Canada to dispose of vaccine stocks that target the XBB.1.5 variant, before new formulations are approved and distributed. Alberta health officials said more than 300,000 doses have been withdrawn in the province while Ontario and Saskatchewan said it will take time to determine their counts.
In contrast, British Columbia says it will continue to offer its remaining supply of COVID vaccines.
含羞草研究社淲e are encouraging people in B.C. to wait for the new formulation if they can 含羞草研究社� but we are ensuring in the interim that vaccine remains available for people who may need it,含羞草研究社� a spokesman for the provincial health officer said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Manitoba residents who still want a dose of the XBB.1.5 vaccine can make a request that will be considered on a case-by-case basis, a provincial spokesperson said.
The federal government previously stated on its website that after Aug. 31, 含羞草研究社渢here will no longer be XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines available for use in Canada.含羞草研究社�
But on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada told The Canadian Press that PHAC is working on a 含羞草研究社渢ransition plan含羞草研究社� with the provinces and territories that gives them 含羞草研究社渇lexibility to ensure ongoing access to current supply until new vaccines are approved.含羞草研究社�
The Canadian Pharmacists Association said Thursday that 含羞草研究社渕ismatched guidance含羞草研究社� on existing COVID vaccines can lead to confusion for patients.
含羞草研究社淲hile we understand that many provincial governments have communicated specific instructions to pharmacists based on the federal government含羞草研究社檚 direction to withdraw existing XBB vaccine supplies, that communication varies between provinces,含羞草研究社� an association spokesperson said in a statement.
含羞草研究社淲hen there is a gap in access this can lead to a lot of questions from patients at the pharmacy.含羞草研究社�
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, said he takes issue with the federal agencies含羞草研究社檓essaging on pulling COVID vaccines that are still effective.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 trying to make sure that we don含羞草研究社檛 reduce public confidence in the vaccine,含羞草研究社� Conway said in an interview.
含羞草研究社淎 message like this, 含羞草研究社榃e含羞草研究社檙e taking a vaccine that we told you was good, really good, and you needed to get six or nine months ago, and now we含羞草研究社檙e saying, oh, well, now we含羞草研究社檙e destroying it, even though it含羞草研究社檚 not expired.含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 a message that is already being a little bit misinterpreted by the public.含羞草研究社�
Conway said B.C.含羞草研究社檚 decision to provide doses of the XBB vaccine to people who may still want one is a 含羞草研究社渞easoned含羞草研究社� approach.
含羞草研究社淚f you really need a shot now for a medical reason, this is still a very good vaccine that has good cross-protection against the currently circulating strains,含羞草研究社� Conway said.
Health Canada says it含羞草研究社檚 reviewing updated COVID vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax on 含羞草研究社渁n expedited basis,含羞草研究社� and expects to authorize them this fall if they meet safety and efficacy standards. A spokesperson for the Ontario health minister said it含羞草研究社檚 estimated that provinces will get the new vaccine supplies from Health Canada in October.
Individuals who need a vaccine dose in the short term should account for a 含羞草研究社渧ery small number of people,含羞草研究社� said Dr. Zain Chagla, an associate professor at McMaster University and an infectious diseases physician in Hamilton.
含羞草研究社淓ven people at risk are better off just waiting, recognizing that they want that protection and they want optimized protection going into the season,含羞草研究社� Chagla said.
