Frustration grows as flu vaccine supply shrinks in Ottawa

Some people in Ottawa are having a hard time getting their annual flu shot in a year of unprecedented demand.

Elizabeth Sweeney was especially frustrated that the appointment she booked for herself, her spouse and their child at an Ottawa Rexall Pharmacy was cancelled at the last minute Thursday.

"We've called every pharmacy in Ottawa and there aren't any vaccines to be had, and we're a hot spot. How can that be? I'm really frustrated," Sweeney said.

"How many times am I going to have to spend my morning searching for appointments to then have them cancelled, and then search for them again?"

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She said the experience adds yet another layer of stress for families already dealing with the turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Rexall said itwill reschedule appointments once more doses become available, but supply is determinedby Ontario's Ministry of Health.

The ministry has ordered 5.1 million doses across the province and sent 800,000 units to pharmacies to date.

Ottawa residents frustrated by scramble to get flu shot appointments

4 years ago

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Elizabeth Sweeney says Rexall cancelled her familys flu shot appointments due to a lack of vaccine doses, leaving her scrambling to find another way to get the vaccinations.

The Ontario Pharmacists Association saiddemand this year is like no other.

"We're seeing unprecedented demand, upwards of a 500 per cent increase when compared to this time last year," said Justin Bates, the association's CEO.

He said concernabout a "twindemic" a combination of seasonal flu and COVID-19 cases overwhelming the health-care system hasled tomore people booking appointments earlier.

Heres what flu clinics look like in Ottawa this year

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Ottawa Public Health is administering vaccines by appointment only this year at six daily public clinics across the city.

Family doctors have also been referring some of their patients to pharmacies because of pandemic-related restrictions to their own practices, Bates said.

"We're doing our best tomanage the supply that we have. It's a challenge to all of us. We don't want people to get so frustrated that they don't get the vaccine," Bates said.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) said it has enough doses for everybody who had booked an appointment by Thursday afternoon, with slots still available.

Marie-Claude Turcotte, manager of OPH's vaccine program, said it's also seeing a major surge in demand.

"Last year, Ottawa Public Health immunized throughout the whole flu season ... a little over 11,000 people, and this year, just in the first week of our six clinics, we have over 10,000 appointments booked," Turcotte said.

Dont let frustration stop you from booking flu shot appointments, pharmacy association says

4 years ago

Duration 1:06

Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, says pharmacies have seen an unprecedented demand for flu shots this year, leading to difficulty making appointments and a risk that residents might get so frustrated that they give up trying.

Turcotte said OPH is managing its supply from the province as well as distributing to family doctors, with a focus on long-term care homes and hospitals, where populations are most vulnerable.

Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth said while the OPHclinics are a help, she's facing a shortage of doses and other supplies ather own clinic.

She said she received fewer than 150 doses, including bothsingle-dose and double-dose shots for seniors, though she has 1,400 patients. She said many other family doctors are in the same position.

"This is great, but it's not enough," Kaplan-Myrth said. "It's not enough until every family practice and every pediatrician has what they need to provide every patient with the flu vaccine."