Alberta pharmacists can't offer publicly funded measles vaccine as outbreak worries grow

There are calls for Alberta to improve access to publicly funded measles vaccines, by allowing pharmacists to provide them, as some Albertans struggle to access the shots.

Canadian health officials recently began urging people to ensure they're protected against measles, especially before travelling. Cases have surged in Europe and are popping up in parts of Canada as well.

Many adults are now scrambling to sort out if they need another dose.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, adults who were born before 1970 and plan to travel should have at least one dose of the vaccine. Those born after 1970 should have two.

"I didn't want to take a chance with the measles," said Red Deer resident Jean Kennedy-Roy, prior to leaving for France to visit her new grandbaby, who is too young to be vaccinated.

When she heard the vaccination recommendations for travellers, she immediately set out to secure an appointment for herself.

But, according to Kennedy-Roy, it wasn't easy.

"This needs to be dealt with so people can get their injections in a more timely manner," she said.

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She wasn't able to book an appointment in time at a public immunization clinic and tried a number of different pharmacies before driving to Lacombe, where she paid out of pocket to get the shot.

"The government is behind the 8-ball," she said.

"They really need to get on to this. They need to work with public health and the pharmacies and move the vaccine into more accessible community spaces."

Kennedy-Roy wrote Alberta's health minister about her concerns but has yet to hear back.

Role of pharmacists

Randy Howden, president of the Alberta Pharmacists' Association, said pharmacists would like to help but have not been given the green light by the provincial government.

Currently, pharmacists can only access private supplies and charge customers for measles shots.

"It's pretty difficult to get it through the public health system right now, there's a bit of a wait," he said.

According to Howden, the association has asked that the measles vaccine be added to the list of publicly funded shots they're already allowed to provide such as influenza and COVID-19 immunizations.

"It would be very, very easy for us to increase access to these vaccines … and take some of the load off other parts of the health system," he said.

"We have the scope to provide these vaccinations and we've shown that we're able to roll out effective vaccine systems and processes in the past."

According to the group's website, pharmacists have administered more than 4.5-million doses of the COVID vaccine since March 2021.

• Alberta urged to make 'full court push' against measles as Europe battles outbreaks

The government said it is not planning to launch a measles vaccination program with the pharmacies.

"Pharmacists are valued partners in our health system and we appreciate their support in administering publicly funded vaccines," Sheri Clegg, an Alberta Health spokesperson, said in a statement emailed to CBC News.

"Alberta Health is not currently considering partnering with community pharmacies to administer measles-containing vaccine for various reasons, including vaccine logistics, dilution of supply, vaccine administration route and vaccine reporting requirements."

Alberta's immunization program, which is led by public health nurses, is working well, the statement went on to say.

"Increased access to influenza vaccine (for ages five-plus) and pneumococcal vaccine (for 65-plus) through pharmacies has not increased immunization rates," Clegg said.

However, according to the Alberta Pharmacists' Association, pharmacists are the largest provider of influenza vaccine in the province each year.

"It is a little bit surprising when we start to hear calls and recommendations to get vaccinated that at the same time there isn't an avenue to provide easier access to those vaccines," said Howden.

To make matters worse, manufacturers are reporting shortages of the measles vaccine, due to increased demand. 

"My pharmacies ran out [last] Saturday and we don't have capacity to get more," said Howden.

• Canada faces shortage of measles vaccines amid rise in cases, demand

Health Canada said both manufacturers have indicated they're able to fill orders for public immunization programs.

But the private supplies are affected by the shortage, and the pharmacists who offer them are fielding a lot more calls these days.

"Now we have so many inquiries from the general public," said Kenneth Kwon, a pharmacist at Two Pharmacy in Cochrane.

Often, he said, people are confused about whether they qualify for a measles shot and he guides them through that process. 

As a travel pharmacist, Kwon usually keeps a good supply on hand. But he's unsure how long it will last.

"We get inquiries on a daily basis.… If the trends keep going, we may use them up."

Meanwhile, Alberta Health Services (AHS) said it's working to improve access to adult immunization in the Calgary zone.

Adult immunization is offered one day a week at the Brentwood and Sunridge clinics as well as the South Calgary Health Centre.

Starting at the end of March, it will be centralized at Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in the Beltline, with appointments offered six days a week as well as evenings and weekends.