October. 21 will be a busy day for Cochranites. Not only will X's be marked on a voter card but this years' influenza immunization will be readily available across pharmacies and doctors offices beginning Monday.
"Getting your flu shot is one of the best things you can do to protect your own health and that of your community; and it's never been easier. I encourage all Albertans to join me in getting immunized this season by visiting their local pharmacy or doctor's office, or an AHS (Alberta Health Services) public clinic," said Tyler Shandro, Alberta's Minister of Health.
Near the end of last month some pharmacies in Cochrane were given doses of the influenza vaccination prior to it's scheduled release in the coming week. Ian Kruger, pharmacist and owner of TWO Pharmacy believes this happened because AHS ultimately wanted to get the vaccination in the hands of the public as soon as they could, but this tactic allowed for inconsistency within pharmacies as some had the product while others did not.
"Normally they pick a date so Oct. 21, everyone plans for it, everyone staffs for it, we book appointments for it and this year, about the last week of September they said 'oh no this year if you receive it ahead of time, you're allowed to give it' so we then got 200 doses which then went really fast and now we don't have anything until the 21st," explains Kruger.
There are two manufacturers for the injectable influenza vaccine, Fluzone and FluLaval Tetra. Last year 31 per cent of Albertans received the influenza vaccine compared to 29 per cent in 2017-2018. For the current flu season enough vaccine has been ordered to immunize 35 per cent of Albertans which should be in accordance to previous years estimates.Press secretary for the Minister of Health, Steve Buick credits this years minor obstruct to lagging information.
"Every year the World Health Organization looks at what strains are circulating and they give each country advice about what strains to cover in its vaccine. There was just a little bit of delay getting that advice nationally and then that translated into delays in manufacturing and shipping," said Buick.
He added this years' hiccup hasn't effected the campaign as it's been rolling out the same as in previous years. He says the pharmacies were the only ones noticing the demand issues because they have had to turn away patients until the replenishment is sent out on Monday.
Pharmacies are authorized to order 200 doses of the influenza vaccine a day and can then use their judgment to place further orders.
