Doctors prioritizing high-risk patients amid temporary flu shot shortage
Posted Oct 15, 2020 09:15:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The demand for flu shots has gone up this flu season — and a number of local pharmacies are already experiencing flu shot shortages.
For now, doctors offices have been directed by Region of Waterloo Public Health to prioritize high risk patients like seniors.
However, local Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies say they have not received that directive and they are currently completely out of flu shots.
Navneet Randhawa, the owner of the Uptown Waterloo Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy, is asking people to be patient as they wait for a new supply of flu shots.
“I think there is enough stock for Canadians, I think it's just a matter of time that the supply comes back. It's just the way distribution is working this year.”
She says they will have flu shots for the general public by the end of October.
“Shoppers Drug Mart has been working hard with the ministry to get the stock back. We expect that there will be enough dosages for Canadians, we just don't have any for now.”
Randhawa says this year's shortages can be blamed on high demand.
“Also, it's because it was released to the general public [right away]. So I think it's just a matter of time that we get our stocks back and we start working on it again. I don't think there is anything to be concerned about at this time.”
She says you can go online to shoppersdrugmart.ca/flu and sign up to get a notification when pharmacies are restocked.
