Pharmacists seek more publicly funded vaccines in Ontario
Nearly a year after the Ontario government pledged to expand pharmacists' ability to administer publicly funded vaccines – including those for diphtheria, pneumococcal disease, and shingles – to improve healthcare access and reduce doctor visits, the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA) argues further action is needed.
Flu vaccine
A person gets a shot during a flu vaccine program on October 26, 2009. A study has found that people who live in provinces that allow pharmacists to give flu shots are more likely to get vaccinated against the seasonal bug than those living in jurisdictions without such a policy. (File photo/Jeff McIntosh/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
(Jeff McIntosh/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Justin Bates, CEO of the OPA, highlighted the province's progress while calling for broader reforms.
'Ontario over the last several years has kind of been playing catch up with the other provinces when it comes to scope of practice and has moved the needle quite significantly, as it relates to prescribing authority and vaccines, really coming out of the pandemic where we saw how efficiently and effectively and safely pharmacists were able to deliver the Covid vaccine. So, this is great news that the government is going to include in the next round of regulatory changes to the adult vaccine package. However, we would love to see more, in terms of all publicly funded vaccines through a pharmacy. And that's where most provinces are today.'
— Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association
Bates noted that the government has targeted October 1 as the implementation deadline but expressed hope for expanded coverage.
Pharmacist Ken Burns, with a decade of experience, shared insights from the frontlines, stating that demand for pharmacy-administered vaccines is high but cost remains a barrier: 'The bigger question is, do I have to pay for it?'
He said that more often than not, pharmacies can administer the majority of vaccines.
'For patients, the issue is, a lot of times, if all the patient has is coverage through the Ontario government, it isn't likely not covered,' he added.
This means that many have to pay out of pocket to get it outside of a formal clinic or hospital setting.
'Oftentimes these vaccines run a couple hundred dollars or maybe more,' Burns said.
Bates emphasized that the OPA's goal is to ensure patients have convenient, affordable options for timely care.
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