Whitehorse pharmacists face delays getting certified to give flu shots, leaving some pharmacies unable to offer vaccines this season.
Whitehorse pharmacists face flu-shot certification delays
Several Whitehorse pharmacies are reporting setbacks in registering their pharmacists to administer flu vaccines — an issue that’s leaving some unable to offer the shots at all this season. Medicine Chest Pharmacy confirmed it won’t provide flu vaccines this year due in part to registration problems, co-owner Jeff Spiers said.
Certification gridlock stalls vaccine access
Pharmacists in the Yukon are required to complete training and obtain an endorsement from the territorial government before administering vaccines. The course typically takes two to three weeks to finish, said Greg Oldridge, president of the Yukon Pharmacists Association. But this year, he said, several pharmacies have struggled to get approvals processed.
Mixed results among local chains
Oldridge noted that some larger chains have had smoother experiences. One chain, he said, successfully registered multiple new pharmacists in time for the 2024-25 flu season. But smaller pharmacies, including Medicine Chest, continue to face months-long delays waiting for endorsements to be approved.
Government silence during caretaker period
Medicine Chest has been corresponding with Yukon’s Department of Health and Social Services for more than five months with little progress, Spiers said. One pharmacist remains unregistered despite repeated follow-ups. The department declined to comment, citing the current caretaker period before the swearing-in of a new government. A spokesperson said they would respond once the new cabinet takes office.
Community Services says process is on track
The Department of Community Services, which issues endorsements once coursework is completed, said it is unaware of any backlog. “If the training is complete and documentation is in order, endorsements should be issued within 10 days,” spokesperson Kara Johancsik said. “If anything is missing, that could cause delays.”
Technology adds to frustration
Even pharmacies with certified staff report technical issues with Panorama — the Yukon’s immunization tracking system. David Winger, a pharmacist and manager at Shoppers Drug Mart in Whitehorse, said the software can be slow, extending appointment times. He compared it to B.C.’s ImmsBC system, which he called “much faster and more streamlined.”
“In B.C., a patient could be in and out in five minutes,” Winger said. “In the Yukon, it depends entirely on how the system’s running that day.”
Impact on flu-season readiness
As flu season approaches, Yukon pharmacists warn that registration delays and software slowdowns could limit access to vaccines across the territory. “Pharmacists are ready and willing to help protect their communities,” Oldridge said. “We just need the tools and approvals to do it.”
