Toronto pharmacist ending vaccination program over supply issues

Less than two weeks into Ontario’s flu and COVID-19 vaccination rollout, a Toronto pharmacist will no longer provide the shots to members of his community, citing ongoing supply issues putting people at risk. 

Kyro Maseh, who works at Rylander and Lawlor – two pharmacies in the east end of Toronto under the Pharmasave umbrella, said the distribution of flu and COVID-19 shots has been a disaster. Sometimes, they’ve received empty boxes or just 20 doses from an order of 200.

“If you have patients who are transplant patients or a patient about to start chemo, we had to prioritize these patients as we always do, but unfortunately, we have had to do a lot more triaging this year than any other year,” said Maseh. “At Rylander [Pharmasave], we had nothing, so we’ve been turning away 50-60 people a day.”

He said the issues started with the decision by the Ministry of Health to appoint Shoppers Drug Mart as one of the distributors of publicly-funded vaccines.

“If there is an issue with the process, that means it’s not the few hundred patients I look after. It means that thousands of Ontarians are being affected.”

Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA), said they have heard complaints about distribution issues this year from Pharmasaves.

“Our goal is to bring the parties together to come up with solutions between the pharmacy distributor and the pharmacy operators so that we have the right supply at the right time at the right place, but certainly, there are challenges with how the timing of awarding government contracts to pharmacy distributors and how that’s gone in the early days,” said Bates.

He said this year, the Ministry of Health awarded two pharmacy distributors a contract. That contract went to McKesson for all pharmacies except for Pharmasave, and Pharmasave was allotted Shoppers Drug Mart as a distributor.

Pharmasave previously was using a different pharmacy wholesale or distributor, Bates added.

“That means setting up accounts and going through a whole new logistical system. I think that is contributing to some of the early growing pains that we’re working between Shoppers and Pharmasave to fix and with government involvement to come up with solutions.”

The Ministry of Health and Loblaws, which owns Shopper Drug Mart, tells CityNews that support services are in place, and they are working with the pharmacies to ensure a smooth process. 

Bates said they are also focused on finding solutions to allow for the continuation of flu vaccination programs at the locations having issues.

“We’re very confident that by bringing the parties together, focusing on solutions, we can rectify some of these early frustrations that undoubtedly are putting pressure on some pharmacists.”

Maseh said vaccine uptake is already low in Ontario, and distribution issues like this only hamper the push to get needles in arms.

“If all the nurses and doctors are looking after people with respiratory infections that could have been prevented through vaccinations, who’s going to be looking after your kid when they get sick?”

Maseh adds that if Shoppers Drug Mart continues to be their distributor, they will opt out of the flu vaccination program altogether next year.

“If you’re getting in between me and the services that I’m providing my patients, then I can’t work with you,” shared Maseh.