Push is on to make scheduled vaccines routine for Ontario pharmacists

The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada is calling on the Ontario government to allow pharmacists to administer shots other than COVID-19 and influenza vaccines after a recent poll revealed that up to one in three children in the country may have missed a critical routine vaccination. The poll, commissioned by the association and conducted by the national non-profit organization 19 to Zero, also found that as many as one in four adults had missed, or is unsure if they missed, a routine vaccination for themselves or their child. "The drop in routine vaccinations is extremely concerning and is why we are asking the Government of Ontario to enable pharmacists to administer these potentially life-saving vaccines,” Neighbourhood Pharmacies CEO Sandra Hanna said in a press release. "By providing Ontarians with an easy-to-access and convenient way to receive these vaccines, pharmacists, working alongside physicians and our health system partners, can reduce the current strain on the health system brought about by the pandemic, all the while ensuring Ontarians are protected from preventable illnesses." Read: Neighbourhood Pharmacies call on federal candidates to unlock pharmacy’s potential Close to 70% of Canadians are in favour of pharmacists administering routine vaccinations, added Hanna. Most provinces in the country already allow this, but a handful–namely Ontario, Northwest Territories and Nunavut–currently do not. B.C. is working on legislating routine vaccinations for its pharmacists. "We have seen throughout the pandemic a drastic drop in routine vaccination coverage," said Dr. Jia Hu, chair of 19 to Zero. "As a physician, I have seen the critical role played by pharmacists throughout the COVID-19 vaccination efforts and annual flu shot campaigns throughout the country. By enabling pharmacists to administer routine vaccines, Ontario would truly have an 'all hands on deck' approach to ensuring our communities remain safe and healthy." Neighbourhood Pharmacies is asking Canadians to visit www.oneinfour.ca to let the Ontario government know they want pharmacists in the province to have the ability to immunize patients not only against COVID-19 and influenza but also illnesses such as pneumonia, HPV and shingles. Read: Kids first: Pharmacists head into flu season with children on their priority list

Push is on to make scheduled vaccines routine for Ontario pharmacists

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