Those who were vaccinated against the flu will be less frightened than those who sought to obtain toilet paper as materials were reduced on store shelves.
But that doesn’t mean the demand for flu shots is low.
A Toronto pharmacist who owns four Shoppers Drug Mart franchises in Greektown said Monday that there were enough flu shots.
Papastergiou added that he did not need to see other people get vaccinated against the flu in the same panic as paper-laying buyers.
“(The government) bought about 30% more shells this year; we were hoping for a big leap,” Papastergiou said.
“That said, I don’t think the call is sustainable for the flu season. He will die, (even if) you hear the term “twindemic” and with COVID booming. “
More than thirteen million doses of the vaccine were ordered this year, up from 11. 2 million in 2019, the Canadian Public Health Agency said.
Ontario ordered 5. 1 million doses, about 700,000 more than last year, as well as 1. 3 million high-dose vaccines for the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
“There’s a wave of calls for almost immediately, ” said Papastergiou. “On Thursday, one site manufactured 500 flu shots. Some retail stores have already won more than 2,000 flu vaccines.
“It would be what we did for last year’s total in the first week and a half,” he added.
Ontario’s Ministry of Health distributes the wave vaccine to pharmacies, medical offices, and city-administered influenza clinics during the season.
There are 101 Shoppers Drug Mart retail outlets in Ontario that test for COVID-19 swabs for asymptomatic patients and the flu vaccine.
Papastergiou said it was a challenge, with social estating, given that only a certain number of people can enter the store at a time.
“The models are a little different, the COVID tests are scheduled for appointments . . . however, we keep them separate from the traffic coming in from the flu,” he said.
Papastergiou said he suggests that other people stop by shoppers to see which pharmacies have vaccine stocks.
Rexall said he also expects the flu shot to be requested.
“We are confident in the existing grades of the flu vaccine,” spokesman Andrew Forgione said.
Dr. Vinita Dubey of Toronto Public Health said the network’s flu vaccination clinics will be open until December and appointments will need to be booked.
“Getting the flu shot can also increase the number of people who want to get COVID-19 tested because the symptoms are very similar,” Dubey said.
jyuen@postmedia. com
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