Some pharmacies in the Pontiac were recently informed by the Ministry of Health and Social Services that the amount paid to pharmacies for each COVID-19 vaccination would be reduced. This decision led some pharmacists to halt all operations of acquiring more vaccines amid news that the fourth dose is now available for people over 60.

Pharmacists have since been hesitant to order . . .

more vaccines and others declined to purchase more as the cost was not enough to run their business.

For almost a week, Familiprix owner Marc Aufranc was not giving covid vaccines. However, starting April 7, the government reversed its decision to reduce the amount allocated to pharmacies for vaccination against COVID-19, which allowed Aufranc to start offering vaccines once more.

Aufranc explained that pharmacists are the front-line healthcare professionals who are able to administer the vaccine to their community and without the financial support from the government it is hard to maintain the operation at their pharmacies.

“It’s a lot of work if you have to take around 30 minutes of work which is done for every patient because you have to call, you have to register people and sometimes book them because they’re not able to get in and then when they come in, we have to really serve them,” said Aufranc.

Currently, pharmacists are paid $17.10 pre vaccine from the government to subsidize the cost of vaccines and when they decided to reduce the price it went down to about $11.64. “It’s a lot of work and it’s not enough even for $17, frankly it’s ridiculous,” said Aufranc.

On March 31, Aufranc was informed that the price was going down and for him, he said it was not worth continuing to provide covid vaccines at his pharmacy. He was informed by the Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires (AQPP).

“My first thought was, at that price, I can’t do it anymore, so on the 31st, I stopped it.”

When first informed, Uniprix Clinique owner Pavlina Zhivkov was hesitant to continue the service at her local pharmacy too. “It doesn’t make sense, you want us to help the community that’s good, but you have to help us too,” said Zhivkov.

For her to make a decision Zhivkov, looked at two factors: the reduced price not being enough and not having enough people booking appointments for the covid or booster shots. She explained that once the vaccine gets to her pharmacy its shelf life is only 30 days and if there aren’t enough people she can’t continue to do it as she doesn’t want to waste medication.

“It’s gonna cost me more to give it than to not give the vaccine,” said Zhivkov.

When asked if she believes the decision to reduce the price would impact other vaccines centres in the area she said “I think it’s gonna be a problem.”

She added that she doesn’t want to stop providing the service to her community, but said if it’s going to cost her hundreds of dollars it won’t be sustainable. Zhivkov would need more than 100 people to pre-book for her to be able to maintain it. With elderly people, her pharmacy has had to do all their bookings by phone rather than through the online portal, which takes a lot of time, she said.

Located in Mansfield et Pontefract, Zhivkov, has been helping people from all over the county, especially ones from Waltham and Chapeau who have expressed their gratitude for providing vaccines due to its proximity to them. “The way that people reacted, it was really warm. It was very pleasant.”

Knowing the service is back, Aufranc highlighted that he’s glad he can still provide this service to his community because going to your local pharmacist is more accessible and more convenient. The other option would be for people to find a close-by vaccine centre or go to Campbell’s Bay, which is not always feasible as it will create long waiting periods for people to get their booster, he said.

Aufranc is still worried as he was told that on May 14 or 15, the decision to reduce the price might go back and he highlighted that at that price it will force him to stop providing vaccines to community members again.

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