Flu shots are still readily available at most Kamloops pharmacies.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
January 10, 2014 - 8:33 AM
KAMLOOPS — While some pharmacies in the Okanagan are starting to run out of the flu vaccine most in Kamloops are still well prepared to deal with the influx of people looking for a flu shot following the news last week of H1N1 landing in B.C.
Shoppers Drug Mart in Sahali is the only pharmacy in Kamloops currently out of stock but is expecting to get more in the next day or so. The other two, both Shoppers Drug Mart, were not available to comment. Local pharmacies seem to be faring much better than their Vernon counterparts that have quickly run out of the vaccine. Of the other 10 local pharmacies, five say they are running low and could run out today though nearly all are expecting more stock in the next couple of days.
Interior Health spokesperson Michaela Swan says even though some individual pharmacies may be running low, the health authority is closely monitoring the levels and redistributing the vaccine to areas of increased demand as necessary.
“The numbers indicate no present shortage of vaccines,” she says. “Interior Health recommends people wanting to get the shot call their local health unit, doctor or pharmacy to make an appointment.”
Many pharmacies say there has been an increase in people wanting the shot since the flu strain H1N1 was identified in the Okanagan late last week, with even more demand over the past 24 hours after the death of an Okanagan woman due to the flu strain made headlines.
In Kamloops there are a total of 13 pharmacies offering the flu shot as well as the public health unit. Appointments are needed at some, but not all, in order to get the vaccine.
London Drugs, Pratt's Pharmacy, Target, Shopper's Drug Mart (Sahali, North Shore and Valleyview), Save on Foods, Glover's Medicine Centre Pharmacy, Superstore, Extra Foods, Safeway (Sahali Mall and North Shore) and Rexall are all listed on Immunize B.C. as offering flu shots. There will still be several more flu clinics in the region this season offering free shots to those who qualify.
To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014