Pharmacist-Prescribed Treatment for Strep Throat in Waterloo

Since 2023, Ontario pharmacists have been authorized under the Minor Ailments program to independently assess and prescribe treatment for Group A Streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis — commonly known as strep throat.

At The Boardwalk Pharmacy in Waterloo, our pharmacists can perform a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for strep throat on the spot. If your test is positive, we can prescribe and dispense the appropriate antibiotic in the same visit — all covered by OHIP. No family doctor appointment needed, no walk-in clinic wait.

We are located at 75 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5. Walk-ins welcome.

What Is Strep Throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Strep). Unlike a viral sore throat, strep requires antibiotic treatment to prevent complications such as rheumatic fever.

Common symptoms include:

• Sudden, severe sore throat
• Fever (38°C / 100.4°F or higher)
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck
• Swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
• Headache and body aches
• Absence of cough (cough is more typical of viral illness)

If you or your child are experiencing these symptoms, come in and we can test you right away.

How It Works — 3 Simple Steps

What the Pharmacist Will Assess

Before testing, our pharmacist will conduct a structured clinical assessment to ensure strep throat is the most likely diagnosis and that pharmacist prescribing is appropriate for your situation. This includes:

If a pharmacist determines the condition is outside the scope of the Minor Ailments program (e.g., severely immunocompromised patient, peritonsillar abscess), they will refer you promptly to the appropriate provider.