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Getting the needle proves a popular option this fall

'We’re getting something like 50 to 60 calls a day just to book appointments or inquire about it,' Victoria Harbour pharmacist says of those looking to get an influenza shot this year
Flu Shot 2020 media
Gail Hunt, president and CEO of Georgian Bay General Hospital, receives her flu shot from chief of staff Dr. Vikram Ralhan. Submitted photo

The phone at Tay Pharmacy has been ringing steadily these days.

As with other local pharmacies and medical clinics, the rush for flu shots at the Victoria Harbour business seems higher than ever before with some who have never gotten the injection now interested as the COVID-19 pandemic's second wave picks up steam.

“The demand is almost doubled compared to last year,” Tay Pharmacy pharmacist Hamid Nowroozi said, adding he completed 400 flu-shot injections in 2019.

“I have honestly had clients in the past two weeks that had never, ever had a flu shot. This is their first year getting one.”

The stories much the same at area health facilities with Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) kicking off its annual influenza immunization campaign this week to ensure patient, visitor and staff safety during the upcoming flu season.

During the campaign staff, credentialed staff and volunteers are encouraged to receive their flu shot at the hospital to protect patients, themselves, their loved ones and their colleagues.

“Our annual flu shot campaign is an important part of GBGH’s commitment to safety – for both our patients and our team,” GBGH CEO Gail Hunt said, pointing out that getting a flu shot this year is critically important to help reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

“Each fall and winter, GBGH anticipates there will be an increased need for hospital beds, but this year with potential COVID surges a possibility, we worry about the parallel risks of the pandemic paired with a bad flu season. We need to do everything we can to ensure our patients and community are safe, and this includes receiving our flu shots.”

Over in Victoria Harbour, meanwhile,  the government has, so far, sent Nowroozi one shipment of 200 doses of the vaccine based on how many injections he performed last year. He expects those doses will be used up by early next week.

“We’re getting something like 50 to 60 calls a day just to book appointments or inquire about it,” he said, noting that while in the past, clients could just drop by to get the vaccine, they must now call ahead to book an appointment.

“There’s lots of pressure on us these days. Because of the COVID-19 situation this year, we are only doing patient appointments. I do them every day with almost 25 people, starting at around four (p.m.) and finishing at six (p.m.).

And due to COVID-19, he must ensure the space has been properly sanitized, which creates a five-minute interval between patients.

But speaking as a member of the public, Nowroozi said he doesn’t expect the flu to create that many issues this year because so many people are already wearing masks, properly washing their hands and practising social distancing.

“People are also being very careful about touching things,” he said, “so we should be expecting fewer cases of flu this year compared to the other years.”

That said, Nowroozi said the government wants people to err on the side of caution as COVID-19 cases continue to rise with hospitals not wanting to juggle both influenza and COVID-19 at the same time.

“Because of COVID-19, they want to just reduce the traffic to the hospital,” he said. “They don't want to see any more cases of the flu.”


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Andrew Philips

About the Author: Andrew Philips

Editor Andrew Philips is a multiple award-winning journalist whose writing has appeared in some of the country’s most respected news outlets. Originally from Midland, Philips returned to the area from Québec City a decade ago.
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