Local distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is taking place across the Lakeland. Starting last week, vaccines are available — as long as supplies are on-hand — at nine community pharmacies across the region.
As more people get Covid-19 vaccines there is growing hope that pressures of the pandemic will ease, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney told media on March 17.
“We’re expanding the vaccine rollout as fast as the supply coming into Alberta allows. Our speed and efficiency is only held back by the number of doses that we receive from the federal government,” Kenney said. “Thousands of Albertans are getting immunized at pharmacies every day and that number will rise sharply in the weeks ahead.”
Lac La Biche’s IDA Crescent Drugs and the Pharmasave in Bonnyville are among the nine Lakeland locations and 259 province-wide pharmacies now listed on Alberta Blue Cross website to administer the vaccine.
As of March 15, vaccines are available through community pharmacies for Albertans over the age of 65, as well as Indigenous adults over the age of 50 and staff and senior residents of licensed supportive living facilities not previously eligible.
Booking
Only pre-registered clients will receive the vaccines. Eligible Albertans can book appointments by calling the participating pharmacies, using the Alberta Health Link 811 call centre or through online booking through Alberta Health Services here
According to the Government, as of March 17, 418,663 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta.
From Athabasca and Fort McMurray to Cold Lake and Two Hills, the list of pharmacies across the Lakeland area and neighbouring communities includes:
St. Paul
• Cornerstone Co-Op Pharmacy 780-645-4932
• Shoppers Drug Mart 780-645-3063
Bonnyville
• Pharmasave 780-826-4445
Cold Lake
• Community Drug Mart 780-639-3393
Elk Point
• Elk Point Pharmacy 780-724-3866
Two Hills
• Two Hills Pharmacy 780-657-3530
Lac La Biche
• IDA Crescent Drugs 780-623-4059
Boyle
• Boyle RX Drug Mart 780-689-3762
Smoky Lake
• Shane’s IDA 780-656-3945
Athabasca
• Value Drugs 780-675-2188
Fort McMurray
• Shoppers Drug Mart 780-743-4662
The government says that community pharmacies will ultimately be the largest provider of the vaccine to Albertans. To date, more than 35,000 doses of vaccine have been administered at pharmacies province-wide.
“We are excited to see the Alberta COVID-19 vaccination program expand to include more pharmacy locations allowing timely access and greater opportunity for Albertans to be vaccinated by their own pharmacist in their own community," says Margaret Wing, the CEO of the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association.
Alberta’s Minister of Health Tyler Shandro says more community locations are expected to offer vaccinations in the coming weeks.
“Pharmacies are playing a critical role in offering every Albertan who wants a vaccine the chance to get one by the end of June,” Shandro said in a media briefing late last week. “We know the demand is there and look forward to bringing hundreds of more pharmacies online to administer vaccines in the coming weeks as more vaccines arrive in our province.”
The latest round of vaccine distribution in the province includes 259 pharmacies in 107 communities – a 154 per cent increase in participating pharmacies since March 1.
