Pfizer COVID Vaccine Limits Affect Pharmacies Across Canada

Rising Demand Creates Immediate Strain

Canadians seeking COVID-19 vaccinations at local pharmacies are encountering shortages as high demand outpaces supply. The surge comes during the peak of the respiratory illness season, prompting increased community interest in booster doses and updated formulations.

Manufacturer Temporarily Caps Pharmacy Orders

Pfizer Canada confirmed it has placed short-term limits on orders of its 0.3-millilitre pre-filled syringe product used outside hospital settings. According to Sophie Morin, senior manager of external communications, the measure is intended to stabilize distribution while demand remains unusually elevated.

Alternative Formats Remain Accessible

Despite limits on pre-filled syringes, Pfizer says multi-dose vials—commonly used in past vaccination campaigns—continue to be available for pharmacies. These vials offer cost-efficient packaging and storage, though single-dose syringes typically provide rural and small clinics more flexibility in handling and distribution.

Hospital Supplies Unaffected by Constraints

Pfizer emphasized that its 10-pack pre-filled syringes remain available for distributors serving public health programs. Hospital and long-term care facilities continue receiving vaccinations through provincial supply channels, with no reported interruptions.

Provinces Adjust Allocation to Meet Needs

Ontario’s Ministry of Health said the province still has vaccine supply ready for order and distribution. Officials reiterated that public vaccination programs are fully stocked to protect families during respiratory season. However, some regions—such as Calgary—have reported waitlists as pharmacies struggle to secure shipments.

Other Manufacturers Maintain Deliveries

Moderna Canada confirmed it is delivering doses to provinces and territories as scheduled. Provincial and territorial health authorities continue managing the allocation and public rollout of all available COVID-19 vaccines to balance supply across communities.

The post Pfizer COVID Shot Shortage Hits Pharmacies Nationwide first appeared on Maple News Wire.

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.”

The post Whitehorse pharmacists face delays in flu-shot registration first appeared on Maple News Wire.