Rexall pharmacies temporarily pause flu shot program due to shortages

Laura Howebooked her flu shot two weeks ago so when her pharmacy cancelled just days before her appointment, she says shewas furious.

Howe, a 63-year-old Toronto teacher,was supposedto receiveher shot Wednesday, but late Sunday night, she saidRexallcancelled due to lack of supply and saidthey would contact her if they got more doses of the vaccine.

"The carpet was just pulled out from underneath me," she told CBC News. "I would have been better spending as much time as I could every waking moment trying to find somewhere, because basically I've lost two and a half weeks."

The shortageinOntariois a sign that more people than ever are getting flu shotsPremier Doug Ford said Monday, hours after Rexall, amajor pharmacy chain, temporarily paused its vaccination program because of supply issues.

Rexall said it was making efforts to secure more flu vaccine doses "promptly" and promised to update its customers via email andonline when flu shots becameavailable again.

Ford said the significant uptake of flu vaccines showed the campaign was a success. He also appeared to blame Rexall for the supply shortages.

WATCH|Rexall pharmacies pause flu shots due to lack of supply:

Rexall pharmacies cancels flu shot appointments due to lack of supply

4 years ago

Duration 1:57

Rexall says pharmacies have had to cancel flu shot appointments across the province due to a lack of supply. But in a press conference Monday, the premier blamed the pharmacy for overbooking customers and letting people down. Chris Glover has the story.

At Monday'snews conference,Ford took aim at the company saying, "Don't overbook people. You knew exactly how many flu shots you had, so don't overbook."

A spokespersonfor Rexall, however, pointed out that the vaccinesupply is determined and allocated by the province's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Justin Bates, CEO of theOntarioPharmacists Association,said that his membership had been told more flu shots would bedelivered by the province within the week, although he wasn't sureexactly when or how many would be coming.

WATCH |'Don't overbook people,' Premier Ford tells Rexall:

'Don't overbook people,' Premier Ford tells Rexall

4 years ago

Duration 0:58

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he's doing everything he can so that people can get the flu shot, and he tells Rexall pharmacy not to overbook people for appointments in response to the company temporarily pausing flu shots.

Bates also said that he knows having an appointment cancelled can be frustrating, but ultimately it's positive news that so many peopleare getting vaccinated.

"This is a good problem to have because it's demonstrating that the public is aware of the value and importance of getting a flu shot this season in order to avoid overwhelming the health-care system," he said.

That's cold comfort for Howe.

"You're sticking the human beings who need the vaccines in the middle and thesetwo sides seem to be pointing fingers at each other," she said.

But family physician Jenny Clement says doctor'soffices are struggling with the supply chain, too, and thatavailability is actually an issue that happens behind the scenes every year.

"It's maddening to say the least," she told CBC News. "Sometimes you get it when they say you're going to, and more often than not you don't ... It's a bit of dance you do every year and it's really frustrating."

Clement is part of a group of doctorsplanningtwo outdoor flu shot clinics over the weekend one in Toronto'sJunction neighbourhood, the other in South Etobicoke. They'rehoping to administer 1,200 doses.

The plan is to allow anyone whoshows up with their health card to get a shot, so long as they're above six months of age.

Over 4.7 millionflu vaccine doses distributed in Ontario so far

Health Minster Christine Elliott said that before the pandemicbegan the province had been planning a massive flu shot campaign andin preparation for that ordered 5.1 million doses 700,000 morethan 2019. When theCOVID-19 pandemic took hold,Ontarioordered anadditional 350,000 doses with help from the federal government.

A ministry spokesperson said that over 4.7 million dosesof the flu vaccine have been distributed inOntario, a number Bates confirmed.

During question period in theprovincial legislature on Monday morning, NDP health critic France Gelinas asked Elliott about theshortages pointing to specific examples in herNorthernOntarioriding in and around Sudbury.

In response, Elliott said that over a million flu shots have beenadministered this year compared to approximately 150,000 at the same time lastyear. Like Ford, Elliott said the shortage was actually a markof success.

"We started this flu season wanting to have the largest flucampaign inOntario's history, and it's happening," she said.

"I'm very grateful to the people ofOntariowho have gone out andgotten their flu shots."

Shots orderednotenough to vaccinate Ontario population

The government has been encouraging residents to get their flushot this year, saying that doing so would help preserve hospitalcapacity during thepandemic.

Bates confirmed that demand for flu shots at pharmacies had risen500 per cent from 2019.

Elliott said negotiations were underway to purchase more vaccinesas the 5.45 million flu shots ordered by the province were notnearly enough to vaccinateOntario's population of 14.5 millionpeople.

"We set aside another $28.5 million in case we needed topurchase more vaccines, and that's what we're trying to do now."

Elliott said she had spoken with federal HealthMinister Patty Hajdu and global manufacturers about getting more flushots.

Bates said that the procurement and distribution process for theflu shots were a good trial run ahead of a potential COVID-19vaccine.

"Of course, [a COVID-19 vaccine]has global magnitude withmanufacturers and supply chains that aren't just inOntarioorCanada but around the world," hesaid.