SUNDRE — The local rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has so far been largely enthusiastically embraced by those who are eligible to receive the jab.
“Lots of customers are very excited,” said Leanne Nicolai, front store manager at the Sundre Community Drug Mart.
“When we call, they want to come in right away,” Nicolai said last week, when the pharmacy began taking appointments and administering COVID-19 immunizations.
“Everybody’s eager to get the shot,” she said.
Chris Aingworth, the pharmacy manager, said bookings are “roaring along. It’s really good.”
He spoke with The Albertan in person on the morning of Friday, March 19 ahead of the day’s first appointments.
“I’m quite encouraged to see how people are keen to get their shot,” said Aingworth, who’s worked in Sundre more than nine years.
The pharmacy was the only one in Sundre to receive the Moderna vaccine, with an initial shipment of 400 doses.
“We’ve given nearly 150 already, and after today it’ll be 250, roughly,” he said.
However, once the pharmacy runs out, there won’t immediately be another shipment.
“Supply is a big problem. We were supposed to be getting more next week. But none is coming,” he said, citing a supply interruption with the Moderna shot.
“Unfortunately, that is going to prevent us from booking further people until we get more supply.”
He said the second batch of doses is expected to arrive starting the week of March 30.
“I’m hoping they (Alberta Health Services) will up it — they were supposed to send us 200 more doses.”
The pharmacist expressed awe about the vaccines that are rolling out around the world.
“The technology behind it is mind blowing. People think that it’s a newly developed vaccine, but this kind of technology has been in the process for about 20-30 years. It’s not new,” he said, adding there have been massive amounts of money and human resources poured into spearheading cutting-edge research that’s paved the way for these breakthroughs.
Similar to modern computer technology that just barely a few decades ago might at the time have never been dreamed possible, new techniques for developing vaccines have also rapidly evolved, he said.
“With this technology, I think they (medical professionals) are going to be able to treat so many more different conditions that we don’t even know about yet.”
For the most part, people have not hesitated to get vaccinated, and are “very happy” for the opportunity, he said.
“There’s a few exceptions where people want to know exactly what it’s all about and how it works. And I’m quite happy to explain that.”
For example, concerns about a correlation with the AstraZeneca jab and people subsequently developing blood clots, which prompted several countries to temporarily pause the rollout of that particular vaccine, has created a level of hesitation among some people. However, correlation does not automatically mean causation, and the odds of developing a problem are infinitesimally small, he said.
“When you look at the fact that they’ve given like 20 million doses of that vaccine (AstraZeneca) worldwide, and there’s been like 40 cases of clotting…you have more chance of getting hurt in a car,” he said.
“Unfortunately, that’s going to do a big disservice, I think, to the whole push off because people are worried to get that shot.”
Countries that had paused the AstraZeneca rollout have since resumed administering that vaccine.
“At this stage, all of the countries are trying to be on the side of safety and caution,” he said.
“But, unfortunately, I think the fact that this is making such big news, it’s going to damage the vaccine rollout.”
Asked what are his words of advice to people who for whatever reason remain reluctant to get the vaccine, Aingworth said, “Talk to a health professional that you know, and somebody that you trust.”
Sundre residents Pat and Connie Anderson were among those who were glad and grateful to finally be able to receive the first jab of the Moderna vaccine, with their second jab anticipated to happen in about four months.
The couple did not hesitate to book an appointment.
“We jumped right in,” said Pat, after receiving the shot while waiting with Connie for the required 15 minutes as is the procedure following any vaccine.
“You want to get on that bandwagon,” she said, longing for a return to a sense of normalcy.
“It’s been a long dry spell where you can’t go visit, you can’t have people over. Hopefully it’s getting over,” said Connie about the pandemic.
His words of advice for holdouts is to, “Just get it done, and let’s get on with life and get back to normal as much as we can.”
The provincial government announced last week that more than 250 pharmacies across Alberta will be providing either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, but that due to limited quantities as well as storage and handling requirements, only select pharmacies would be able to participate in the vaccine rollout for the time being.
“As COVID-19 vaccine supply increases, distribution will be further expanded,” reads a portion of the press release.
People who are 75 or older and were part of Phase 1B remain eligible to receive immunization. As of last week, eligibility was expanded to include Albertans aged 65 to 74, as well as First Nations, Metis and Inuit people aged 50 or older. Additionally, staff and senior residents of licensed supportive living facilities who were not previously eligible may now also receive the vaccine.
As no walk-ins are permitted, appointments must be booked.
