Nickel Belt MPP and NDP Health Critic France Gélinas is questioning the Ford government decision to have Shoppers Drug Mart function as a vaccine distributor in Ontario.
Gélinas cited several media reports about problems with the rollout of flu and COVID-19 vaccines this fall. Two Toronto Pharmasave pharmacies ended their vaccine programs after receiving shipments of empty boxes or inadequate supplies, following the province’s decision to award Loblaws’-owned Shoppers Drug Mart a distribution contract.
"Last week, two Toronto pharmacies declared publicly that they are no longer administering vaccines due to major problems with the province’s new vaccine distributor,” Gélinas said. “Who is the new distributor, Speaker? Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws’ chain of pharmacies. The pharmacists in question reported receiving only 10 per cent of their orders, having to cancel days of prebooked appointments, a real headache.”
She also questioned the wisdom of having a private business be responsible for distributing products to its competitors.
“Does the Premier see a conflict of interest in having Shoppers Drug Mart responsible for distributing vaccines to their competitors?” she asked.
Gélinas said the issue isn’t limited to the Greater Toronto Area either.
“Complaints against Shopper Drug Mart handling of the vaccine distribution are coming from every part of the province, even from Shopper Drug Mart pharmacy owners,” she said. “A pharmacist in Northern Ontario told me … this year she was able to recruit three pharmacists to come and help her. She got vaccine clinics booked solid for weeks on end, but no vaccine as the distributor will only give her a percentage of what she used last year. When it comes to high dose flu vaccines the situation is even worse.”
The MPP also questioned why the Ford government stopped having vaccines distributed through Public Health Ontario and instead awarded the contract to a private business.
“Public Health handled vaccine distribution in Ontario for decades with no issues. They knew and listened to local providers. They were reliable,” Gélinas said. “Does the Premier understand that handing the distribution of vaccines over to his friends is having drastic consequences on the health of Ontarians?”