New Brunswick pharmacists have helped get more than 50 percent of COVID-19 vaccines in the province into the arms of the people and as Omicron continues to push and governments continue to encourage people to get reinforcements, the Association of New Brunswick Pharmacists ask people to be patient. .
Andrew Drover, the group’s president, said demand for injections is higher than ever since the vaccine was first introduced about a year ago.
Since the World Health Organization called Omicron a variant of concern on Nov. 26, both experts and governments have encouraged people to sign up for booster doses if six months have passed since their last injection.
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Omicron is much more communicable, and epidemiology experts say cases are doubling every two to two and a half days.
This month, BioNTech and Pfizer said that two doses of vaccine resulted in significantly lower neutralizing antibodies, but that a third dose of their vaccine increased neutralizing antibodies by a factor of 25.
In New Brunswick, vaccines are delivered through participating pharmacies or the two regional health authorities.
“At the moment, the demand is higher than ever during the pandemic. You know, we’re still doing the first doses for some people, the second doses, obviously booster doses are in high demand and pediatric vaccines, ”Drover said in an interview Thursday.
He said that at the beginning there were 218 pharmacies participating in vaccinating people; now it’s more like 170. The drop in the number, he said, happened over time and was not a sudden change.
He said the process has been overwhelming at times.
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“It’s hard to stay motivated, yet we look at it at the end, the light at the end of the tunnel, and we know that we are making our effort to shut down COVID-19. Morale in the pharmacy is like anywhere else: we have to stay strong and make sure people take breaks when it’s the time they need if they need a break, ”he said.
He said pharmacists are administering the vaccinations on a daily basis and with all the usual work as well.
The week before Christmas is usually the busiest, he added.
Many provinces have opened eligibility for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 18 years of age or older, but in New Brunswick, implementation is a bit more cautious.
It is open to people over the age of 50, anyone 18 years of age or older who lives with someone who works in long-term care facilities, hospitals, or schools, and people who work in child care facilities and their immediate family members.
Horizon Health Network and Vitalite Health Network began implementing walk-in clinics over the past two weeks and Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said the province will continue to work to open up eligibility.
Meanwhile, Drover said pharmacists will continue to be here and help people go through the vaccination process.
“I just encourage everyone to be patient with the pharmacy staff when looking for a vaccination appointment. We have been doing this for over a year, so we are doing the best we can to put people where we can, ”he said.
Drover also encourages everyone to check the criteria before scheduling an appointment.
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