Getting A Flu Shot Might Not Be Easy This Year — But It's Worth It
Canadian doctors are worried about flu season.
We’ve already heard about the concern that a rise in flu cases alongside the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a “twindemic,” where hospitals are overwhelmed and left without enough space or resources.
But there’s another issue that could complicate flu season: vaccine shortages. The shortage isn’t a pressing issue on its own, but when combined with increased demand for the vaccine and a slower vaccination process due to pandemic precautions, it could lead to what the Pediatrics Department of the Ontario Medical Association called a “potentially devastating collision course.”
Vaccine shortage is a problem even in non-pandemic years
“There’s always a flu vaccine shortage. We don’t ever get as many vaccines as we asked for,” Toronto pediatrician Dr. Dina Kulik told HuffPost Canada. But typically, most of the people who seek out the flu vaccine can find it somewhere, she said.
Only 42 per cent of Canadians got the vaccine last year, up from 38 per cent the year before, according to Statistics Canada. Many people prefer not to get vaccines that aren’t mandatory, Kulik said, and many don’t think of the flu as serious.
“Some people think the flu is a mild illness, and they’re not aware that it can cause significant illness or even death,” she said. An average of 3,500 people in Canada die from the flu every year.
This year, there’s significantly more interest
This year, there seems to be unprecedented interest in getting the flu vaccine, according to Ryan Doherty. He’s the president and founder of Empower Health, which provides localized information about healthcare providers across Canada.
One of the tools the organization offers is designed to show users where they can find flu shots in their area. Because vaccines won’t become available until mid-October, the site is currently letting people sign up to receive alerts once there are vaccines available in their area. Major pharmacy...
