Pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Your pharmacy team provides an essential service and is fully committed to helping you during this unprecedented time of COVID-19 pandemic. Pharmacy teams want to ensure that you have access to the right information to make good decisions about your health, including how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and what to do if you start feeling ill. Pharmacy teams want to make sure that everyone has access to the medications they need.

Demand for pharmacy services is high! To ensure that you, your family, and your community continue to get the care you need from your pharmacy team, we all need to work together. Our college is engaged with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and her team and are working to support her direction as the status of COVID-19 changes.

What do I need to know and what do I need to do?

DO NOT go to your pharmacy if you are feeling ill, particularly if you have flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Complete the self-assessment using the tool provided by Alberta Health Services and, if appropriate, call 811.
DO call ahead, if you have questions for your pharmacist or require medications to be refilled. Pharmacists can provide an assessment of your needs over the phone. As demand is high, this will allow your pharmacy team to prepare your prescriptions in advance so that you spend a minimum amount of time at your pharmacy.
DO discuss how you are feeling with your pharmacy team member. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms or if you are self-isolating, your pharmacy may be able to arrange to have your medications delivered to you.
DO practice social distancing. If you must go to your pharmacy, respect the distance between you and other individuals at the pharmacy. Try to maintain two (2) meters between you and other individuals at all times. Most importantly, practice this at the pharmacy counter. Allow space between you and your pharmacy team members, and provide additional space so that a degree of confidentiality can be respected for patients in front of you when they are engaging with their pharmacy team member.
DO practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time.
DO keep you and your family informed by regularly checking on new information for the public on the Alberta Health Services webpage.

We know that this time is hard for you and your family. Your pharmacy team is prepared and committed to support your health and medication needs. Your experience may be a little different during the pandemic but be assured that your pharmacy team is doing their best to meet your needs and the overall medication needs of your community.

Thank you for your commitment to work together in curbing COVID-19.

Pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic

What do I need to know and what do I need to do?

Long COVID patient resources (from Alberta Health Services)