Measles vaccine in limited supply at Nova Scotia pharmacies
Nova Scotia pharmacies are seeing a surge in demand for measles vaccines (MMR) amid a rise in cases in Canada and across the world, and it may be hard to find the shot at drugstores.
Kari Ellen Graham is a pharmacist at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Halifax. She said ever since Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang urged people in their mid 50s to take a look at their measles vaccine history, it’s been impossible to keep up with demand.
“I would say 20 calls a day and lots of people coming in and asking questions as well,” Graham told CBC News.
Nova Scotia Health gave clinics like Graham’s enough free doses to vaccinate 10 people. But when those run out, the clinic has to turn to a private supply. Those shots cost around $80. On Thursday, Graham was out of both supplies.
“The bottom line is you could try your pharmacy, although most pharmacies are out. You could try your primary care clinic if you have a doctor — although I’m hearing that a lot of doctors offices are now out,” Graham said.
Nova Scotia Health told CBC News there are enough MMR vaccines to go around in Nova Scotia.
Where to find measles vaccine
“Some individual pharmacies may have run out of their current supply, however, they are able to order more through the provincial biodepot on a monthly basis,” Nova Scotia Health said in an email to CBC News.
If measles shots can’t be found in a pharmacy or primary health-care provider’s office, Nova Scotia Health said they’re available at public health mobile units. As well, Nova Scotia Health said public health offices are providing clinics for children under the age of five who don’t have family doctors, including containing vaccines for measles.
Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia CEO Allison Bodnar says pharmacists are sympathetic to people who are looking to get the MMR shot.
She anticipates pharmacies that are part of community pharmacy primary care clinics — a pilot project that launched last year to allow pharmacists to expand the scope of their practice — will have free shots again sometime in April
“I think part of the problem we have with our current model of vaccines being inside of a primary care office is that —unless you’re a patient of that primary care office — you can’t access that supply,” Bodnar said.
