As the race for rapid tests begins, pharmacy websites are currently down and appointment slots already full.
“There is an internal server error on Jean Coutu’s network. Please try again in a few minutes ”, we can read on the home page of the Jean Coutu pharmacies site.
The situation was restored at the end of the morning, but you have to take your trouble patiently: there are about nine hours of waiting to make an appointment.
Users also encountered a technical flaw for the websites of the Proxim and Uniprix pharmacies.
It was impossible to reserve a time slot in a Brunet branch on Monday morning, we see on the company’s website.
More than 800,000 test kits are to be distributed as of Monday across the province in nearly 2,000 pharmacies.
To receive their kit, each person must make an appointment in advance at pharmacies affiliated with Jean Coutu or Brunet, as well as some pharmacies affiliated with Familiprix. As for pharmacies affiliated with other groups, including Pharmaprix, Proxim, Uniprix, Accès pharma at Walmart, Grégoire Arakelian pharmacies at Costco and Horizon Santé, it is rather a first come, first served approach that has been recommended.
The government provides Quebecers aged 14 and over with a free box of five COVID-19 rapid tests per month.
“The tests will be distributed as they are received in pharmacies. Participating pharmacies will therefore be able to distribute rapid tests while stocks last. They will be continuously replenished in the coming weeks depending on federal arrivals, ”simply assured the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS), Robert Maranda.
It is up to pharmacies to ensure the distribution of the tests and each owner will organize the distribution according to his reality, we add.
The Clic Santé website, which allows appointments to be made to obtain a vaccination against COVID-19, also experienced operational difficulties on Monday morning.