Pharmacists urge public to get latest COVID vaccines

B.C.’s community pharmacies had a record-breaking start with more than 1.1 million vaccines administered in the first three weeks of the 2024 respiratory illness immunization campaign, demonstrating the value pharmacists provide the public health system.  

Thanks to the role of the Association, which continues to work closely with health authorities and the province, pharmacies had a smooth start to the flu season. The Association advocated not only for more vaccines to be delivered to B.C. pharmacies, but to make sure they were delivered earlier.  

This year, a record 1,385 pharmacies signed up through the Association to deliver influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations for the 2024/25 season. The Association team, as in years past, closely monitored allocations and coordinated clinic capacity so all patients would have access to their COVID-19 and flu vaccines with little waste. 

Since the program began, pharmacies have seen a steady increase in overall vaccines available to them. This fall, approximately 2.7 million doses, evenly split between flu and COVID shots, were allocated to community pharmacies. An increased number of vaccines and favourable timing of shipments from manufacturers meant more vaccine supply was sent to pharmacies upfront compared to last year. This year, pharmacies were sent three to four weeks of supply in the beginning of the season versus last year’s two to three week’s supply.  

In addition to having more stock upfront, pharmacists were well-prepared to deliver a co-administration campaign for the third season in a row, and the results show, despite the province rescinding pandemic public health orders in July. 

These numbers speak to the confidence British Columbians have with receiving their immunizations in community pharmacies. Pharmacists are also providing an important role by continuing to educate patients about the latest strains and vaccine effectiveness particularly when patients have any questions. It's a critical role pharmacists play in ensuring patients are educated and confident in receiving their vaccines each year. 

Sophie Park, pharmacy manager at Rexall #7184 in Vancouver, said her conversations with patients this year have shifted towards education on community immunity and respiratory illnesses in general. 

“This year, patients have more questions and seem more unsure about whether they should get vaccinated. I emphasize that vaccination is still crucial for maintaining health, even though the pandemic is over,” she said.  

“We’re now focusing on how vaccines protect not just individuals but also their loved ones. We inform patients about new strains of COVID-19 and discuss other vaccines for respiratory illnesses, like those for RSV and pneumonia.”

Pharmacist Chester Ha, associate owner at Shoppers Drug Mart #2234 in Vancouver, has noticed that some patients this year initially weren’t sure why they need to continue to receive the latest COVID shot. But after explaining that there’s a new strain circulating since their last dose, his patients typically decide to receive the latest booster. 

“Honesty is always the best approach,” Ha said. “I am honest with my patients and share from personal experience when I can on what my post-reactions have been, which have been mild and tolerable in nature. I also remind patients who may have many medical conditions and older in age of how our immune systems may not be what it once was to fight these viruses and that vaccines have always been well proven to aid our bodies when exposed to these viruses.” 

Kylee Power, Association Board Member and co-owner of the Central Drugs group of pharmacies, agreed that educating patients about the latest COVID strains is an effective way to help patients become informed. 

“I often correlate it as to how we are used to having an updated flu vaccine each year. That’s something that patients have a comfort level and acknowledgement on, that with new strains, you require an updated vaccine,” Power said. 

“If you want to have the best protection then you need to continue to get the boosters as they are updated. Public health officers are the specialists in this area and this is the advice they’re giving.” 

Indeed, at the start of this year’s campaign, Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s public health officer, urged the public to follow the science and get the latest updated vaccines. She said that British Columbians should not forget the great harms caused by COVID just because restrictions have been lifted.  

“I worry a little bit that we’re in a phase of collective forgetting, which is not uncommon after a major traumatic event, and all of us want this to be behind us and not have to think about this anymore,” Henry said.  

“One thing that I am absolutely certain of is the fact that the vaccines that we had and the ability to provide protection through immunization is what got us through the pandemic, and what made it so that we can live with this virus and stop some of the restrictions that were necessary.” 

That some patients may be questioning whether they need to continue to receive COVID boosters is something the health sector is familiar with.  

It’s a topic recently reviewed in October 2024 by an evidence brief in the Canada Communicable Disease Report, which looked at 21 Canadian studies between 2021 and 2023 evaluating the attitudes and acceptance of COVID-19 booster doses. The findings suggested that the appetite of Canadians to continue receiving COVID-19 boosters has been declining over time.  

Christine Antler, Region Director, Pharmacy, at Pharmasave West, said it’s up to frontline health-care professionals such as pharmacists to remind patients of the value of vaccines in preventing illness. 

“Pharmacists are skilled at supporting adherence. When patients are not as diligent about taking their medications, pharmacists work with them. Similarly with vaccination, when speaking with patients and having an open discussion about the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated, we regularly see patients who were unsure about the need for this year’s booster change their mind,” she said.

Antler said it’s possible a portion of patients may feel some fatigue due to the public health recommendation that patients receive a COVID vaccine dose six months after their last dose, unlike, for example, the annual flu shot interval.

“It can show up very overtly, with patients saying ‘I don’t want to get another vaccine’ or more subtly, that ‘I don’t need that vaccine right now,’ putting it off for a future appointment,” she said.  

While the best way to encourage patients to receive their vaccines is education, Antler suggested that another way to help them feel more comfortable may be minimizing the number of times a patient has to come in for a jab. 

“Try to administer multiple vaccines in one visit, if you can. If the patient is eligible for flu, COVID and pneumonia and can receive those shots in the same appointment, they won’t have to come back multiple times and potentially experience that fatigue,” she said.

Penny Lehoux, Manager, Pharmacy Managed Care at London Drugs, agreed that it’s a good idea to discuss vaccines when a patient already has an appointment for a jab. 

“A great opportunity to discuss vaccines is when someone is already receiving one. Maybe you can add a second vaccine to their appointment to save them time,” she said. “Help them check something off their wellness to-do list.” 

She said routine counselling opportunities can be some of the best times to talk about vaccines with patients. 

“Put the recommendation in the context of how it could be important to them,” Lehoux said. “For example, patients picking up antibiotics for bronchitis, COPD or asthma inhalers, or NRT for smoking cessation, could be screened for flu, COVID-19, RSV, or pneumonia vaccines.” 

One tool her company uses is an online self-service vaccination screening tool that patients can use on their own time. 

“This allows individuals to assess their own vaccine needs on their own time, and this approach puts the control in the hands of the individual or their caregiver, empowering them to make informed decisions on their health,” she said.