Several Whitehorse pharmacies are facing challenges in registering their pharmacists to administer flu vaccines, leading to some pharmacies not being able to offer the vaccine this year. Medicine Chest Pharmacy, owned by Jeff Spiers, is one of the pharmacies not providing the vaccine due to registration issues.
Greg Oldridge, the president of the Yukon Pharmacists Association, mentioned receiving complaints from pharmacies in Whitehorse regarding difficulties in obtaining vaccine endorsements, a mandatory certification in Yukon for administering flu vaccines.
According to Oldridge, the training required for the endorsement typically takes around two to three weeks to complete. He noted varying experiences among pharmacies in the registration process, with some chains having more success in registering their pharmacists compared to others.
Medicine Chest Pharmacy has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the Yukon government’s Health and Social Services department for the past five months, as mentioned by Spiers. Despite their efforts, delays in the registration process have persisted, hindering the pharmacy’s ability to administer flu vaccines.
Delay in Response from Health Department
When contacted for a response regarding the registration delays, the Yukon Department of Health and Social Services declined to comment, citing the caretaker period until the swearing-in of a new government. The department spokesperson indicated that communications are limited to essential updates during this period.
On the other hand, the Department of Community Services, responsible for providing vaccine endorsements to pharmacists, stated that there are no pending cases. The department’s spokesperson, Kara Johancsik, emphasized that pharmacists meeting the coursework requirements should receive their endorsements within 10 days.
While some pharmacies face challenges with vaccine endorsements, there are additional complaints about the Panorama software used for tracking patient immunization records. David Winger, a manager and pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart in Whitehorse, highlighted concerns about the software’s efficiency compared to systems used in other provinces, causing delays in flu shot appointments.