Flu vaccine is available at 48 local pharmacies across Grey Bruce, offering flu shots to those ages 5 and older. The high demand for flu shots this year may result in pharmacies running out before their next shipment but they are constantly being re-supplied; check with your local pharmacy for availability. This supply/demand issue is occurring province-wide.
Flu vaccine is available through health care providers – most health care providers are doing appointment only and a few are providing mass-immunization clinics due to COVID-19. All health care providers should have flu vaccine available for clients now. Throughout October, health care providers have focussed on vaccinating high-risk clients. With that mostly complete, attention turns to vaccinations for the general population.
High dose flu is available in very limited quantities from pharmacies and health care providers.
Regarding time of receiving the flu vaccine, the general message is “don’t wait for a particular flu vaccine – get vaccinated. There is no preferential flu vaccine.” Nevertheless, your health care provider is the best judge on when it would be optimal for you to get the vaccine based on your individual health status, their expertise with understanding the community health need in their catchment area, and the plans they have to allocate resources to address these needs.
“It is likely that flu virus and COVID-19 will both spread this fall and winter,” says Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr Ian Arra. “Healthcare systems could be overwhelmed treating both patients with the flu and patients with COVID 19. This means getting a flu shot during 2020 season is more important than ever!”
While getting a flu shot will not protect against COVID 19, there are important benefits:
1. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death.
2. Getting a flu vaccine can also save healthcare resources for the care of patients with COVID-19. (www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm)
source: media release, Grey Bruce Health Unit
