Greater Victoria pharmacies have been inundated with questions on how to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but they say by spring the vaccine should start to arrive.
Some have created lists or newsletters so the public can stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine. They advise you check their website and avoid calling in. groups who will get the shot first are outlined by the province.
but now the timeline for when they could arrive is becoming clearer.
“Sounds like in March or April the COVID-19 vaccines will become available to more of the general population, and becoming available to pharmacies is going to be a huge game-changer,” said Lindsay Dixon, a pharmacist at Heart Pharmacy.
Some pharmacies have created a sign-up list to get the latest information regarding their release. They will still be given to priority groups as laid out by the province.
The B.C. Pharmacy Association is coordinating the effort with local health authorities and the province.
But still, many questions remain, like will they change the way they deliver it? Which ones will be the first available and which vaccine is considered the most effective?
“The Pfizer vaccine does have some more complicated storage requirements, and I don’t know if those will make it to local pharmacies,” explained Dixon.
“But the Moderna vaccine can be refrigerated at 2 to 8 C, and the AstraZeneca vaccine, that we know Health Canada is close to approving, can also be refrigerated … The efficacy we are seeing is 94-95 per cent, this is excellent and me personally I would take whatever vaccine is available.”
“The population at large in pharmacies will be fridge stable variety,” said pharmacist Joe Frketic. “It will be one easily to be transported. The ones out now currently require special storage requirements.”
Possible side effects
Some people may experience side effects after receiving a dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, but according to Dixon, it is very rare.
“We know that most cases of anaphylaxis occur within those 15 to 20 minutes [after],” said Dixon, adding. “Pharmacists are trained and capable and ready to help people. It’s a very rare occurrence we see about a .001 per cent chance of that happening.”
However, officials warn it will still take months after or longer to reach herd immunity,
Julian Kolsut
