Updated June 10, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccinations at BioPro Biologics Pharmacy
Small Supply Volumes Arriving Intermittently
The COVID-19 AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine is now being reserved for second dose administration for people in BC who have already received their first dose. The timing and availability of the second dose is pending supply. The direction from the BC Ministry of Health is for people to receive their 2nd COVID-19 vaccination 8 weeks after their 1st (recently announced by the BC Government). Until further direction from the BC Government, pharmacies will not be providing anymore new first COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
We will be sending emails to people who have received their first COVID-19 vaccination from BioPro Pharmacy as we receive supply to schedule second dose vaccinations.
BACKGROUND HISTORY: On Wed March 31, 2021, select Pharmacies in BC were given the supply and authorization to start immunization with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca/COVIDSHIELD vaccine for people aged 55 to 65 in BC. On April 13, 2021, the province removed the upper age limit of 65 years old for the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine being offered in community pharmacies, on April 19, 2021 changed the lower age limit to 40 years of age, and on April 27, 2021 changed eligibility to those aged 30 and older. New information was announced on May 12, 2021 that immunization with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca/COVIDSHIELD vaccine will be reserved for 2nd doses only and those with pre-existing appointments with pharmacies will be completed and no more new first dose vaccinations will be done in pharmacies.
Effective June 7, 2021, individuals who received AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine as dose 1 will be receiving invitations to receive dose 2 as supply is available. For more information, go to the BCCDC COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility page.
CURRENT STATUS: BioPro Biologics Pharmacy is receiving COVID-19 Vaccine (Astra-Zeneca version) on an intermittent basis as supply is available and contacting people via email who have received their 1st vaccinations at BioPro. We are no longer accepting COVID-19 first Vaccination appointments. We have completed all available appointment bookings for first vaccinations and do not have any more supply of COVID-19 Vaccine for first doses. Please review the information on this website instead of emailing or phoning about COVID-19 Vaccine availability and appointments so we may keep phone lines open for other health and prescription related services and reduce unnecessary email traffic in these times of increased communications.
The interest in COVID-19 vaccinations has been much greater than supply available and many were not able to book an appointment time through the pharmacy, we apologize that we were not able to help due to limited vaccine supply. Vaccine supply has been unpredictable and vaccination details have been changing constantly. We are following the direction given by the BC Ministry of Health and BC Provincial Health Officer.
Whether you have received your 1st COVID-19 vaccination or not and would like to be vaccinated for 1st shot or 2nd shot, everyone in B.C. must register with the Get Vaccinated provincial registration system (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register) . This includes:
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Seniors, Indigenous people and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable who booked dose 1 through their health authority before April 6.
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People who got dose 1 of AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD at BioPro Biologics Pharmacy or any local pharmacy.
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Anyone eligible based on current rollout of vaccine in BC (See: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine)
Registration ensures that your current email and phone number are used by the BC Ministry of Health to contact you to book dose 1 or dose 2. Spread the word and help your friends and family complete their registration, book an appointment and get the vaccine.
If you were on the BioPro Biologics Pharmacy Waiting List for COVID-19 Vaccinations, we have had to clear it because the BC Government has announced that no new appointments will be made by pharmacies for first vaccinations until further notice. This is the direction given by the Provincial Health Office, Dr. Henry and the BC Minister of Health, Mr. Dix. As a result of the information from the BC Government, BioPro has had to stop the waiting list. We have informed everyone on our prior waiting lists and have directed them to the Get Vaccinated provincial registration system (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register). If you have not done so, you must register on this system whether or not you have received your first or second COVID-19 vaccination and would like to be be kept up to date on this vaccination and be invited for future vaccination rollouts.
New process for patients to register for second dose after receiving vaccine at pharmacy
On Tuesday, Apr. 27, the B.C. Ministry of Health informed pharmacies that, starting May 1, patients who received their COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy must register for their second doses at: https://www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca/
The Ministry is collecting this information in order to ensure communities receive the right amount of vaccines.
Once patients are eligible to book their second dose, they will receive a notification by email, text message or phone call from the central provincial booking platform. It is important to note that people who received their first dose in pharmacies will need to register in order to get their second dose.
You can find more information on the government website at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register#AstraZeneca.
COVID-19 QUESTIONS:
Answers to COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions by the BC Centre for Disease Control can be accessed here: (http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/covid-19-vaccination-at-a-glance)
For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccine, see the recent webinar by our Pharmacy Lead at BioPro, Dr. Alan Low, speaking together with Dr. Vandana Ahluwalia, Rheumatologist, click here.
Deciding on Which Version to Get for Your 2nd C OVID-10 Vaccine
If you are unsure of which COVID-19 vaccine to get for your second dose, remember the important thing is to get a second dose when you are eligible (if you have received the AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer versions). You need the second dose to maximize your protection against COVID-19 infection and receive the full protections these preventative treatments have to offer. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) made recommendations on getting either AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) for your 2nd dose based on expert opinion, data from smaller studies, and one larger UK study focused on safety. The information provided by the BC CDC may help to inform you about your decision, see: Choosing your 2nd dose (bccdc.ca) [http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID-19_vaccine/AstraZeneca_2ndDose.pdf]
Note the risks below to put things in perspective for you:
* Updated Risk estimates for AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Clot Risk:
1 / 100,000 associated with 1st shot and 1 / 600,000 associated with 2nd shot
(Reference: BCCDC June 3, 2021 Communication)
Medical Cannabis - we can help you get started!
Do you have any of the following medical conditions?
- Arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia)
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Chronic pain
- Sleep disorder (insomnia)
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
Talk to a BioPro Pharmacist to see if medical cannabis is appropriate for you.
For more information about medical cannabis, please click here. Medical cannabis consultations are by appointment only – to book a medical cannabis consultation, please click here.
COVID-19 Q&A
Our very own, Dr. Alan Low, and rheumatologist, Dr. Vandana Ahluwali, hosted a special Arthritis Talks webinar in collaboration with the Arthritis Society of Canada. This was a follow up to the previous COVID-19 and You webinar.
TO THE FUTURE OF PHARMACY
BioPro was established with one goal in mind: to provide patient-centred care. We are a full service and innovative pharmacy located within the same building as multiple specialist physician’s offices allowing for seamless and collaborative healthcare. Come in today for a medication assessment in one of our renowned consultation pods, complete a light-therapy session within the first SOLIUS machine in the world, or receive customized pharmacy compounding.
Pharmacogenomic Testing and Consultations
Pharmacogenomic Testing and Consultations
BioPro Pharmacists can help you select a pharmacogenomic test that is best suited for you and provide consultation on the test results. See the promotional discount offer, partnered with Inagene Dignostics (https://inagene.com) use promo code BioproConsult to receive a $10 discount off the cost of the test and complimentary consultation on the results ($90 value).
Blend & Boost
The Blend & Boost brand began with a pharmaceutical company that utilized advanced research and development to establish an effective method of creating customized and personalized skin care for all skin types.
SOLIUS is a highly innovative technology which isolates and emits only the wavelengths of light that contribute to vitamin D synthesis, without the harmful UVA rays present in the sun’s energy.
Flu (Influenza) Shots Plus Publicly Funded and Privately Paid Vaccines
Make an appointment for your Flu Vaccination to help protect you and those around you from influenza infection. We offer many other vaccinations including Prevnar 13, Shingrix (shingles vaccine), plus others and the less common yellow fever vaccine. Speak with a BioPro Primary Care Pharmacist about your vaccination history and how you can be best protected.
Award Winning Care
The Founder
Dr. Alan Low BSC (Pharm), PharmD, ACPR, FCSHP, CCD, RPh Pharmacist Award Winning Pharmacy Services
Dr. Alan Low recipient of the Ben Gant Innovative Practice Award 2019:
Following a career that has seen pharmacist Dr. Alan Low wear many hats — hospital practitioner, researcher, advisor, instructor, author, speaker, corporate officer — in February 2017 the pharmacy practitioner applied his decades of practical experience and clinical knowledge when opening an innovative pharmacy, BioPro Biologics Pharmacy.
“After a wide variety of roles, I was thrilled to be back in frontline pharmacy practice,” says Low. “I wanted to create a different kind of pharmacy with a service model centred on exceptional patient care.”
Learn More About Biosimilars
Dr. John Wade MD, FRCPC Rheumatologist: Biosimilars for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Biosimilars are medications that we use to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. These are proteins that we inject under the skin or we have to infuse them through an IV.
The reason we have to do that is they are proteins – you can’t swallow them because they would be digested. So very different from traditional medications that we use for rheumatoid arthritis.
Biosimilars are very similar types of medications, they have the same protein structure as original biologics. The difference is because they are a large molecule, in the manufacturing process there may be some minor changes in the structure of the protein.
More Educational Videos
Dr. Alan Low BSC (Pharm), PharmD, ACPR, FCSHP, CCD, RPh Pharmacist : Osteoporosis Guidelines and Treatment Options
Osteoporosis actually occurs when your bones are weak and you have a higher risk of fracture.
This is a higher risk of fracture usually due to some cause such as thinning bones, which might be genetic, or it could be due to certain medications.
The risk of fracture can be broken down into low, moderate, or high risk. Low risk is considered that risk that’s less than 10 percent; moderate risk is between 10 and 20 percent. And those who have a high risk of above 20 are considered high risk of fracture, and should consider treatment.
Dr. Alan Low BSC (Pharm), PharmD, ACPR, FCSHP, CCD, RPh Pharmacist : Shingles Vaccine and Treatment Options
Shingles, sometimes called herpes zoster, is actually caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus.
That’s the same virus that causes the chicken pox, so if you’ve had the chicken pox, that means the shingles virus is already inside of you. And when it reactivates, that’s what really causes the shingles.
In fact, 95 percent of the population has been exposed to chicken pox and already has the virus inside of them. It’s not just after having chicken pox that it occurs, it’s usually many years later.
Dr. Alan Low BSC (Pharm), PharmD, ACPR, FCSHP, CCD, RPh Pharmacist : Asthma and The Importance of Good Device Technique
If you’ve been told you have asthma, there’s lots of things that you can do to fully control it. You can live a normal lifestyle. You don't have to take days off work. You shouldn't be waking up at night, and you should be able to control that asthma and the symptoms actually quite well.
Studies have shown that people with asthma think that they're actually better controlled than they really are. There's many things you can do to improve your asthma symptoms so that you are well controlled; live a completely normal life.
What Our Patients Say About Us
“All of my past visits to the Pharmacists of BioPro Biologics Pharmacy have been handled with the utmost care concern and genuine affection with a sincerity one seldom sees or experiences. The staff at BioPro in Vancouver are well deserving of recognition.”
“I came in after a routine infusion and everything went great. Dr. Low was amazing. Would recommend coming to see Dr. Low and any member of their team at BioPro Biologics Pharmacy.”