Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

COVID-19 IMMUNIZATIONS

Pharmacy vaccination demand in Kamloops growing with opening of 40+ age category

Apr 20, 2021 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops vaccination clinics and pharmacies are keeping busy this month, as thousands of people register, book appointments and get innoculated against COVID-19.

“I can tell you as of (Tuesday, April 20), we’re at 32,816 doses delivered in Kamloops, and of those 30,742 are first doses.” says IH Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton.

More and more people are getting their first dose, but B.C’s cases and hospitalizations are rising. Dr. Fenton says current guidelines should be followed to the letter so the vaccine roll out can be as effective as possible.

“Hospitalizations so far are stable in the Interior and part of that is likely because we’ve done a really good job of vaccinating the people who are more likely to be hospitalized. But we need to be really careful and watch our numbers because we have had an increase in cases and we know that the increase in hospitalizations tends to follow by a few weeks.”

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Since the province approved the use of AstraZeneca for people aged 40 and older, local pharmacies like Pratt’s Compounding Pharmacy say there’s been increased interest in the vaccine.

“We’re getting tons of calls, but unfortunately no vaccine.” says owner and pharmacist Chris Cameron.

Several pharmacies, including Pratt’s, have already distributed all of their doses, and as they wait for the next shipment, wait lists are growing into the hundreds. Cameron says supplies are limited as the province has opted to target high transmission communities (see BC Government release here).

“There are 11 communities that have been highlighted in B.C and our understanding is that vaccine is prioritized for those communities. Fortunately for our community, we don’t have the urgency today — that could change. But that’s where that vaccine has been diverted to.”

Pharmacy appointments can be made over the phone and online, and when more supplies arrive, those who have signed up will be notified. Cameron says more doses will likely arrive sometime in the next ten days, but delivery times are not guaranteed.

Whether it’s Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca, health professionals say the immunization risks are extremely minimal. Cameron notes that people should not be ‘vaccine shopping’, or waiting for a certain brand.

“The incidents — 4 in one million defines that risk,” he says, “The other thing that’s really reassuring to people is there is a treatment available. So when you get your after-care sheet there is a list of symptoms that you could see — really rarely — in four to 16 days. If you see that, there’s treatments available.”

Those who are eligible can register for both the pharmacy vaccines or the provincial mass clinics. It’s recommended to take whichever vaccine appointment becomes available first.

“We know unequivocally that the risk from the vaccine is much, much, much lower than the risk of COVID,” stresses Dr. Fenton. “Since COVID is circulating in our communities, we need people to get that protection.”

For more information on how to book or determine your eligibility, click here.