COVID shots available in B.C. until new vaccines arrive: province

BritishColumbiasays its current supply of COVID-19 vaccines will remain available until new formulations are approvedunlike other provinces that say they're following a federal directive to destroy existing doses.

A spokespersonfor the provincial health officer saysB.C. residents are encouraged to wait for the updated COVID vaccines if possible, but people can still get last season's shots if they need them.

"We are encouraging people in B.C. to wait for the new formulation if they can but we are ensuring in the interim that vaccine remains available for people who may need it," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Officials in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan and say they are following instructions from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to dispose of vaccine stocks that target the XBB.1.5 variant, since updated formulations are expected this fall.

But a spokesperson for PHAC and Health Canada says that "transition plan" gives each province and territory the "flexibility" to ensure people can still access current shots until new ones are approved.

A provincial spokesperson in Manitoba says unused doses of the XBB.1.5 vaccine are no longer available in that province, but patients can still request one and be considered on a case-by-case basis.

'Mismatched guidance'

The Canadian Pharmacists Association said Thursday that "mismatched guidance" on existing COVID vaccines can lead to confusion for patients.

"While we understand that many provincial governments have communicated specific instructions to pharmacists based on the federal government's direction to withdraw existing XBB vaccine supplies, that communication varies between provinces," an association spokesperson said in a statement.

"When there is a gap in access this can lead to a lot of questions from patients at the pharmacy."

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Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, said he takes issue with the federal agencies' messaging on pulling COVID vaccines that are still effective.

"I'm trying to make sure that we don't reduce public confidence in the vaccine," Conway said in an interview.

"A message like this'We're taking a vaccine that we told you was good, really good, and you needed to get six or nine months ago, and now we're saying, oh, well, now we're destroying it, even though it's not expired'it's a message that is already being a little bit misinterpreted by the public."

Conway said B.C.'s decision to provide doses of the XBB vaccine to people who may still want one is a "reasoned" approach.

"If you really need a shot now for a medical reason, this is still a very good vaccine that has good cross-protection against the currently circulating strains," Conway said.

Health Canada says it's reviewing updated vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax on "an expedited basis" and expects to authorize them this fall if they meet safety and efficacy standards.