Ontario pharmacies blame shortage of flu vaccine for cancelled appointments
Posted November 2, 2020 8:01 am.
Last Updated November 2, 2020 11:14 am.
There continues to be a supply-and-demand issue with this year’s flu shot, especially when it comes to pharmacies.
Some people taking to social media Monday have said they’ve received an email that their appointment has been cancelled due to a lack of vaccine supply across the province.
RELATED: Toronto Public Health opening fourth flu-shot clinic in Scarborough
The chair of the board of directors of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, Jennifer Baker, told Breakfast Television that pharmacies were only allocated about 20 per cent of the flu vaccine this year.
“Because of the strain on the healthcare system, and the ways in which people are looking to receive their flu shot and looking to receive healthcare, we’re seeing a really increased demand in pharmacies,” Bake said, “at this point in time, pharmacies have seen over a 500 per cent increase.”
Baker said the association is advocating to receive more of that supply in future deliveries, so they can continue to provide flu shots.
She said patients should talk to their pharmacy about the availability of the flu shot, reach out to their primary care provider, or look for public health clinics in their area.
— Kathy Buckworth (@KathyBuckworth) November 2, 2020
Same here. I’ve been waiting on this appointment for weeks as it was the first I could get! pic.twitter.com/W8MzswsZgp
— Leah Ferguson (@leahthedesigner) November 2, 2020
Yep!! Not a good sign!! pic.twitter.com/UIumcGnyBg
— Chantel Whitter (@ChantelWhitter) November 2, 2020
I got my flu shot 2 weeks ago – called the pharmacy, got an appointment that same day, 2 hours later I was shot. Done.
— Elisabeth Hart (@EHartTweets) November 2, 2020
I received the same notice this morning. I had appointments for the whole family. I can’t find any pharmacies with it available.
— Marla Bolanos (@MarlaBolanos) November 2, 2020
