Pharmacists see big response from public for flu shots

Plenty of people have been taking advantage of new rules that allow pharmacists to administer the flu shot.

It has been two weeks since the province gave approval for pharmacists in Newfoundland and Labrador to administer medications by injection and inhalation, including flu vaccines.

It's convenience, because peopleliterally want to walk in through the door, get their shot,sit there for a couple of minutes,and then walk outthe door again.- Stephen Reid, Pharmacists' Associationof Newfoundland and Labrador

People can now go to their local pharmacy, fill out some paperwork and they're able to receive s flu shot.They don't need to make an appointment, and the whole process takes about 10minutes.

Gregory Batt, who owns Breakwater Pharmacy in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, said it's convenient for people and he's seeing lots of uptake.

"A lot of seniors, a lot of people who haveissues getting into their family physician," said Batt.

"So you're seeingthose people, they are [the] ones that are reallyasking aboutit ...and people who are working and don't have a lot of time to go into their family doctor.Theywant to come in and get it donein the evening, or when the hours are convenient for them."

Batt said he's been receiving close to a dozen calls a day from customers looking to get vaccinated at hispharmacy.

A simpler process, more convenience

Stephen Reid, executive director of the provincial pharmacists' association, said more people are protecting themselves against influenza, now that the process is simpler.

Theywant to come in and get it donein the evening, or when the hours are convenient for them.- Pharmacist Gregory Batt

"It's convenience, because peopleliterally want to walk in through the door, get their shot,sit there for a couple of minutes,and then walk outthe door again. And those were the stories that I got from several of the pharmacists that I've visited in the last couple of weeks," Reid said.

So far,close to 500 pharmacists have been trained to inject people at drug stores, and about 250 more are in the process of receiving the training.

This year, for the first time, flu shots are also free for everyone.