In just one day, a BC pharmacist administered 100 doses of vaccine.
Pharmacists across BC are being flooded with people eager to get their flu shots on the first day of appointments they offer.
Anoop Khurana, a pharmacist who owns two Shoppers Drug Marts in the Vancouver area, says he administered more than 100 doses just the first day the vaccine was available.
“The message has come that we vaccinate at the beginning of the year,” he says. “So people are definitely rolling up their sleeves early, knowing that it takes two weeks at least to get full immunity.”
This year, for the first time, British Columbians are being notified via the Get Vaccinated text message service, the same one used for the COVID-19 vaccine launch. BC residents who have not registered through the online portal are encouraged to do so.
Khurana Pharmacy is extending appointments so people have the option of getting the flu shot and the COVID-19 shot at the same time.
“If they booked a booster of the COVID vaccine and want to get the flu [vaccine], we have dedicated time to provide both vaccines. So that’s something we’re really focused on doing now as well. Because, you know, it’s convenient to get both at the same time instead of floundering, if that’s what you want,” he said.
Most people get a shot in each arm, he adds.
Khurana says there is a huge demand this year for the flu vaccine in the wake of COVID-19.
“Normally, the numbers are higher before the flu season, and then they decrease, which is actually the ideal situation because you want to protect early so there’s less spread in the community.”
The pharmacy in downtown Coquitlam is full of people who want to get a flu shot.
Pharmacist Dennis Taruc says they are getting a lot of phone calls from people who don’t know how to reserve their vaccine.
“So we have to do it for them, which adds a lot of work to us,” says Taruc. “It was meant for them to do it themselves, but then people don’t know how to do it. do it on their own … the general public.”
Taruc told Glacier Media that he wasn’t exaggerating; on the day of the inauguration, he administered about 50 vaccines.
“I just hope people understand that we can’t get everyone in right now. It’s only the second day of flu season and people want it on the first day. But it’s not physically possible to do that,” he says.
He also faces visitors and has to turn them down.
“Some people get two vaccines at the same time, so that adds more work,” he says. “We are managing ourselves. We have to be careful.”
How much flu vaccine is there?
All BC residents, six months of age and older, can get their flu shot for free this year.
BC is distributing more than 1.8 million doses for this year’s flu season, including more than 660,000 doses of enhanced flu shots for seniors.
For Taruc, he is not worried about the supply, since he did not overbook his pharmacy; however, he has heard of other pharmacies doing this.
Khurana agrees that supply will depend on the individual pharmacy.
“Right now it’s being pushed by the government to make sure it’s evenly distributed across all types of vaccination centers. And then … there will be multiple shipments, and once the individual sites are sold out, they’ll eventually have the option to reorder more if they get higher adoption,” says Khurana.
Projection for this year’s flu season
Health officials are calling for an earlier and more severe flu season.
In a statement this week, the Ministry of Health says there have been low flu rates over the past two years due to public health restrictions and reduced travel and socialising.
“This could be a very bad flu season this year in Canada, based on the high levels of flu in Australia, and typically Canada mimics what happens in Australia,” says Khurana. “So it seems like a lot of the community is realizing how important it is to protect themselves this fall by getting their flu shot and also the COVID shot or booster at the same time.”
He adds that even if you’re young and healthy, it’s still important to consider getting a flu shot.
“Anyone can get the flu and because every year, even if you’ve had flu shots in the past, there are different strains circulating in the community,” he says.
How to register for your flu shot in BC
Instead of booking a vaccine at your local pharmacy, you can book your shots online. Visit the Get Vaccinated website to register.
There is an option to call the provincial call center at 1-833-838-2323.
Alternatively, you can try your luck and pop into a pharmacy.