SUNDRE — A local clinic was selected among a handful throughout Alberta to participate in a pilot program “to test new processes and procedures” prior to a planned province-wide rollout in May.
A press release issued on Wednesday, April 14 by Primary Care Networks and Alberta Medical Association announced that 10 clinics would be offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible patients as part of a “proof of concept.”
The Moose & Squirrel Medical Clinic was among a select few chosen to administer doses on Monday, April 19. Two clinics from each of Alberta’s five health zones were picked to provide upward of 200 jabs to patients who had not yet been vaccinated. However, more than 280 clinics across the province had submitted expressions of interest in the lead-up to the pilot program’s delivery.
The clinics were specifically selected to provide representation from small, medium and large clinics in rural as well as urban communities, and “to test the most effective ways to transport, book and administer the vaccine,” reads a portion of the release.
Appointments were available only to the clinics’ patient list. Details on potential follow-up drives will be announced as information becomes available. Lessons learned from the pilot are hoped to help expand the program’s delivery to additional clinics as early as May, the press release states.
Meanwhile, vaccinations in Alberta remain available to those who meet the criteria through pharmacies as well as Alberta Health Services clinics.
Sundre Family Pharmacy is accepting appointments, with eligibility criteria recently expanded to include people born in 1981, or 40 years of age or older.
Erin Baumung, pharmacy technician, told The Albertan on Monday, April 19 that the clinic had run through its roughly 100 doses of AstraZeneca by Friday, April 16. While they are anticipating additional supply, she said they did not immediately know when another shipment would arrive, as the distribution and allocation of vaccines comes under the auspices of Alberta Health Services.
“We have no control,” she said, adding, “The wait list keeps getting longer.”
However, anyone who is eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine can call 403-638-4510 to have their name included on the list. They’ll be contacted once the clinic receives a fresh supply, she said.
Over at Sundre Pharmasave, pharmacy assistant Randi Jonker said during a phone interview that the AstraZeneca vaccine is also available there. When Jonker spoke with The Albertan on Monday, April 19, she said their supply of 100 doses, which was received early the week before, was running low. Walk-ins are discouraged and she said anyone who wants to be included on their list should instead call 403-638-4944 to make arrangements.
“Calling in is the best (approach),” she said.
And Sundre’s third pharmacy, which was the first to begin administering jabs a few weeks ago, also continues to provide COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible people who want the shot.
However, Chris Aingworth, pharmacy manager at Sundre Community Drug Mart, said their efforts are constrained by limited supply.
“They only sent us 100 shots last week,” Aingworth said on Tuesday, April 20 during a phone interview.
“We have 40 doses left, and we’ll be finished those by the end of today,” said the pharmacist.
“Supply has been incredibly spotty and very difficult to manage,” he said.
“With the rollout, the way it’s been done, (the provincial government) keep on opening new phases, but we don’t have vaccines — the list just gets longer and longer.”
While Pfizer has really ramped up its supply and shipments of the AstraZeneca vaccine seem to be getting more stable, there remains problems with securing adequate amounts of the Moderna shots, he said.
That leaves pharmacies largely at the mercy of an uncertain supply chain, waiting one hour to the next to learn when there might be another shipment, he said.
“It’s a shot in the dark, basically,” he said, pun unintended.
“We just sit and hope. Much of the time, we’re disappointed because it just doesn’t come or they only send us like 100.”
But people who qualify are still encouraged to call the pharmacy at 403-638-3922 to get their names on the list for the next available batch.
“We can’t handle any drop-ins. Everything that comes in is pretty much spoken for before it’s even shown up,” he said, adding some people have even opted to simply finding other locations with available supply.
And the pharmacist sounded pleased that people are, for the most part, following through with their appointments.
“It’s very unusual for anybody to cancel. Like, people show up — on time. It’s been really good.”
