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COVID-19

Local pharmacies seeing dip in demand for COVID-19 booster doses

Feb 4, 2022 | 5:50 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – After a video from Kamloops surfaced showing a pharmacist throwing away hundreds of doses of expired COVID-19 vaccines, pharmacists here in Prince George are not surprised.

For many the video from CFJC News is shocking to watch, although Pharmacy Manager at the Third Avenue Pharmacy Patrick Dinelle said he has noticed a dip in demand over the last number of weeks.

This comes as 5.9% more Prince George local health areas including rural areas got their booster doses of COVID-19 last week than the week prior.

Overall no Prince George local health area has more than 45% of those aged 12 and older with three doses of a vaccine with most sitting at or slightly above 40%.

Dinelle believes that many people are simply putting off getting their booster dose.

The dip in demand also comes as the National Advisory Council on Immunization announces new recommendations for those who have had COVID-19 on when those Canadians should be getting their booster dose.

NACI recommends those who caught COVID-19 can wait up to three months, adding the longer the interval the stronger the immune response and ultimately longer-lasting protection from the virus.

“Individuals who are recommended to receive a booster dose and who experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection after completing their primary series may receive a booster dose three months after symptoms started or after testing positive (if no symptoms were experienced) and provided it is at least six months after completing a primary series,” said NACI.