As several provinces get rid of their existing COVID-19 vaccine supplies to make way for updated shots expected in the fall, pharmacists and some doctors say the move raises questions about gaps in vaccine access and government messaging.
Officials in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec say they are following a directive from the Public Health Agency of Canada to dispose of vaccine stocks that target the XBB.1.5 variant, before new formulations are approved and distributed. Alberta health officials said more than 300,000 doses have been withdrawn in the province while Ontario and Saskatchewan said it will take time to determine their counts.
In contrast, British Columbia says it will continue to offer its remaining supply of COVID vaccines.
鈥淲e are encouraging people in B.C. to wait for the new formulation if they can 鈥� but we are ensuring in the interim that vaccine remains available for people who may need it,鈥� a spokesman for the provincial health officer said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Manitoba residents who still want a dose of the XBB.1.5 vaccine can make a request that will be considered on a case-by-case basis, a provincial spokesperson said.
The federal government previously stated on its website that after Aug. 31, 鈥渢here will no longer be XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines available for use in Canada.鈥�
But on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada told The Canadian Press that PHAC is working on a 鈥渢ransition plan鈥� with the provinces and territories that gives them 鈥渇lexibility to ensure ongoing access to current supply until new vaccines are approved.鈥�
The Canadian Pharmacists Association said Thursday that 鈥渕ismatched guidance鈥� on existing COVID vaccines can lead to confusion for patients.
鈥淲hile we understand that many provincial governments have communicated specific instructions to pharmacists based on the federal government鈥檚 direction to withdraw existing XBB vaccine supplies, that communication varies between provinces,鈥� an association spokesperson said in a statement.
鈥淲hen there is a gap in access this can lead to a lot of questions from patients at the pharmacy.鈥�
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, said he takes issue with the federal agencies鈥檓essaging on pulling COVID vaccines that are still effective.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to make sure that we don鈥檛 reduce public confidence in the vaccine,鈥� Conway said in an interview.
鈥淎 message like this, 鈥榃e鈥檙e taking a vaccine that we told you was good, really good, and you needed to get six or nine months ago, and now we鈥檙e saying, oh, well, now we鈥檙e destroying it, even though it鈥檚 not expired.鈥� It鈥檚 a message that is already being a little bit misinterpreted by the public.鈥�
Conway said B.C.鈥檚 decision to provide doses of the XBB vaccine to people who may still want one is a 鈥渞easoned鈥� approach.
鈥淚f you really need a shot now for a medical reason, this is still a very good vaccine that has good cross-protection against the currently circulating strains,鈥� Conway said.
Health Canada says it鈥檚 reviewing updated COVID vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax on 鈥渁n expedited basis,鈥� and expects to authorize them this fall if they meet safety and efficacy standards. A spokesperson for the Ontario health minister said it鈥檚 estimated that provinces will get the new vaccine supplies from Health Canada in October.
Individuals who need a vaccine dose in the short term should account for a 鈥渧ery small number of people,鈥� said Dr. Zain Chagla, an associate professor at McMaster University and an infectious diseases physician in Hamilton.
鈥淓ven people at risk are better off just waiting, recognizing that they want that protection and they want optimized protection going into the season,鈥� Chagla said.
