** We are Open normal hours. **
** FREE Deliveries & Curbside Pick Up! **

– Our Quality Care will remain at our Highest Standards –

** We are changing how we provide Medications & Over the Counter products, please read our Health Safety Protocols here.

Howe Sound Pharmacy is committed to the Health and Well-being of everyone in our community, and to doing our part to help limit the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19.

Starting Monday March 23rd, we’ll be implementing our Health Safety Protocols to help maintain social distancing for the protection of our valued patients, our staff, their families and our community.

ORDERING: Please CALL US FIRST so we may serve everyone safely and efficiently, as follows:

• Call Us First to place a New or Refill Prescription order & over-the-counter requests 1 to 2 days ahead please. If you have an Urgent Prescription – let us know.
• Have your Doctor fax or phone in new prescriptions, and Call Us First before coming in to pick up.
• We will only be giving out a 1 month supply of chronic medication at a time to limit the possibility of shortages.
• There will also be a limit of 1 puffer/nasal spray/eye drop/insulin products per visit for supply reasons.
• We will always have a Pharmacist available by phone to answer any questions you may have over the course of the next few months.

PAYMENT: Payment by credit card when you order is strongly recommended. For cash or debit cards, you’ll of course be invited into the Pharmacy, but if you can, please use a credit card over the phone.

GETTING YOUR PRESCRIPTION & OVER THE COUNTER ORDER:

• Medications will either be delivered or brought out to your vehicle with very limited exceptions.
• Take advantage of our FREE DELIVERY SERVICE!
• We can also DELIVER TO YOUR CAR! Park in front at the ‘Designated Pickup Time’ – then call again and we will bring your prescriptions and over-the-counter items out to you – please have ID ready. We can answer questions or counsel at the same time, and let us know if you wish to speak to a Pharmacist who will be happy to answer your questions.
• If you have complex issues, then we will want you to come into the pharmacy to let us help you with your issues, prescriptions or any other needs.

ENTRANCE TO OUR PHARMACY:

• Access to our Pharmacy will be limited to an as needed basis – with ‘no’ reduction in service for anyone.
• We’ll have a sign at our front door asking you to call us from your car or outside the door to determine whether we can help you without having to come in for service. *If you don’t have a phone, just knock and someone will be out to see you shortly.

We ask our patients to please ‘stay home’ during this extremely important period of social distancing. We are grateful for your support in keeping you, our staff and our community safe. We will get through these challenging times together.

Chris Juozaitis and the dedicated Howe Sound Pharmacy Team
Caring beyond Medication – Howe Sound Pharmacy Ltd. (604) 886-3365

Childcare & Schools – COVID-19

As of March 17, 2020, B.C. will be suspending K-12 classes.

As of March 17, 2020, B.C. will be suspending K-12 classes. Teachers and schools will be developing plans for continuing instruction, outside of the classrom. More information will be added as it becomes available.

Information for post-secondary institutions can be found on this page. Students, faculty and staff should consult their instituation’s website for specific information.

How to support students who are self-isolating

Those who are self-isolating are doing so for the benefit of others. Please support continuing instruction (e.g. deadline extension or alternative coursework that can be completed from self-isolation) and create a non-punitive environment for those who are self-isolating.

At post-secondary institutions, students, faculty, or staff who are self-isolating may rely on post-secondary services (for example housing or food), institutions should plan for how they will support those in self-isolation. If your institution has a pre-existing plan for pandemic influenza, it may have protocols and guidance that can be adapted.

How to support students psychologically at this time

A new virus such as the one that causes COVID-19 can create anxiety and be difficult for students/children to understand, especially if someone in their school or family is sick, or they see or hear troubling media reports. It is normal for students/children to feel worried or nervous and have questions. Communication should reflect the diverse linguistic, literacy and cultural characteristics and needs of the students/children and their families.

It will be important for schools/childcare programs to monitor for discrimination and/or bullying surrounding COVID-19, in particular towards those who may have been exposed to the virus and are self-isolating at home, or self-monitoring for symptoms. School/childcare programs should make all efforts to ensure that misinformation is clarified and anti-discrimination/bullying protocols are adhered to.

For more info > BC Centre for Disease Control

British Columbia COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

This self-assessment tool, developed with the BC Ministry of Health, will help determine whether you may need further assessment or testing for COVID-19. You can complete this assessment for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.

Who should be tested for COVID-19?

People with respiratory symptoms who are:

Hospitalized, or likely to be hospitalized
Health Care Workers
Residents of long term care facilities
Part of an investigation of a cluster or outbreak

Who does not need to be tested for COVID-19?

People without symptoms
Patients with mild respiratory symptoms who can be managed at home, including returning travellers with an onset of illness within 14 days of return to Canada

** More info > British Columbia COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

We would like to clarify the Federal Minister of Health’s recommendation of stockpiling medications or having 3-months of medication on hand for the public. The BCPhA has reached out to the provincial Ministry of Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) asking for planners to take into consideration the potential for drug shortages around COVID-19 and the message on stockpiling.

**The BCPhA only recommends people have an adequate supply of medication on hand. Most people will normally have between 1 to 3 months on hand, and stockpiling anymore may push an already fragile system into drug shortages.

The Minister Hajdu’s office said the message was intended for more vulnerable individuals or people more likely to have encountered someone with COVID-19. They have committed to making a distinction in future messages, the CPhA said.

Chris Juozaitis
Howe Sound Pharmacy Ltd.
(604) 886-3365
208 – 1100 Sunshine Coast Hwy
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V7

The dedicated Pharmacists at Howe Sound Pharmacy are available to answer any questions you may have about the Coronavirus COVID-19 and your Health Care.

Below is some helpful information for you and your family.

Tips on staying healthy…

Wash your hands frequently
Coronavirus is transmitted via larger liquid droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. The virus can enter through the eyes, nose or throat if you are in close contact with these droplets. Because it can be spread by touch if a person has used their hands to cover their mouth or nose when they cough it’s recommended you cough or sneeze into your arm and wash your hands with soap and water regularly.

Even if you were to somehow touch something, like a doorknob, that has droplets with coronavirus in it, washing your hands before touching your face or mouth will reduce the risk of that virus getting into your body.

Keep your vaccines up to date
Because of the unknowns surrounding COVID-19 people are highly concerned about how to protect themselves. However, in British Columbia more people are currently infected with the flu and with recent outbreaks of measles over the past few years, it’s a good a time as any to make sure your vaccinations are up to date to protect yourself from these known diseases with one of our best defences, vaccination.

Avoid contact with people who are ill and don’t visit others when you are ill
Help stop the spread of illness, if you are feeling unwell stay at home and where possible, avoid those who are unwell. Recently, our Provincial health authorities are also asking people who have recently visited, or who have been in close contact with someone who has recently visited the Hubei province in China, to call public health officials and self-isolate for 14 days.

Consider wearing a face mask if you are sick
We’re seeing a lot of demand for face masks, but remember that while mask can help prevent transmission of illness from a sick person to others, their use is likely less effective in the community in preventing someone from getting sick.

If you are worried you have been exposed to the COVID-19, contact your primary care provider.

Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.

B.C.’s pharmacists are also accessible in the vast majority of communities across the province and are available to provide timely health-care advice and information.

Michael Mui
Communications Specialist
BC Pharmacy Association

For additional information here’s a link to The Government of Canada Page about Coronavirus COVID-19