Vaccine wastage `minimal,' Alberta Health reports

The number of COVID -19 vaccines being wasted in Alberta is “minimal,” says Alberta Health as pharmacies report little to no wastage of the shots.

Alberta Health spokesman Tom Mcmillan said Monday that around 0.3 per cent of all vaccines in the province have been spoiled. By comparison, the 2018-19 influenza vaccine rollout recorded wastage at approximately eight per cent and the 2019-20 influenza campaign recorded wastage around six per cent.

“There can be a wide range of reasons that a vaccine may be wasted, including spills, breakage and other human error,” said Mcmillan. “While some wastage is unavoidable, the remarkably low amount seen to date is a testament to the health professionals delivering the vaccine.”

Mcmillan said pharmacies administering vaccines are able to create a wait-list in case of any late cancellations. He said wait-lists should follow the provincial prioritization plan, but doses can go to people not yet eligible in a “last resort,” prioritizing the oldest person possible.

Several pharmacies across central Edmonton said they have not had to throw out any vaccines from a lack of interest. Several pharmacies in Oliver, Queen Mary Park and west Edmonton communities said they have successfully filled cancelled appointments using waitlists, while one said they have used their entire supply of vaccines.

Nirav Javiya, a pharmacist with Pharmachoice, said there has been low demand for the Astrazeneca vaccine they are offering due to a lack of interest from their clients and narrow criteria for who should receive such shots. However, he said he expects that to change on Tuesday as the government lowers the minimum age of eligibility to 40 from 55.

“We don't have that many people for Astrazeneca. But now people are calling, starting this morning, opening up tomorrow,” said Javiya.

Javiya said they have not been using a wait-list to fill any gaps and that they have not had to throw out any vaccines. Mcmillan told Postmedia Monday that the province has administered 100,315 doses of the 270,800 available doses of Astrazeneca vaccine as of Sunday. He said the current supply won't expire until the end of June.

Alberta Health Services spokesman Kerry Williamson said Astrazeneca can last several months before expiring, as long as it remains in a vial and has not been pulled into a syringe.