Alberta's supply of high-dose flu vaccine running low, pharmacists say
CBC
For the first time, all Alberta seniors are being offered a high-dose flu vaccine but distribution problems are making it tricky for pharmacists to get their hands on it.
The Fluzone high-dose vaccine is described by Alberta Health as "the vaccine of choice" for people in that age bracket.
The high-dose shot was previously offered only to Albertans 65 years and older living in long-term care facilities. Other seniors who wanted the shot had to pay $75. The shot is now free of charge.
This year, pharmacists say the demand is there — but the stock isn't.
"We ordered 10 boxes, we got one," said pharmacist Zicki Eludin, who owns Crescent IDA Pharmacy in Lac La Biche, Alta. "We're probably getting 10 per cent of what we order."
Eludin said his orders for the high-dose vaccine were initially filled, but the number of available doses has recently dwindled. He ordered 50 doses for last week but was only given a single box of five shots.
Most of his clients opt for the standard flu shot but he would like to offer them the improved protection of a high-dose vaccine.
The high-dose vaccine contains four times the antigen — the part of the vaccine that stimulates the body's immune response — than the standard dose.
When Eludin ran an immunization clinic at a local seniors home earlier this month, he didn't have any high-dose shots to administer.
"[Alberta Health] are still so focused on the COVID thing that, I don't know, maybe the logistics department didn't do their homework."
Alberta Health said the province has ordered more than 400,000 high-dose vaccines this season.
The doses are enough to immunize all Albertans 65 and older living in congregate care, and to immunize 68 per cent of the entire population of eligible seniors, Alberta Health said.
"The doses are dispersed in small amounts across the province," Alberta Health said in a statement. "This is to ensure access for as many Albertans as possible."
Alberta had zero lab-confirmed flu cases last year but experts have warned that the province is unlikely to avoid the flu season twice. Three cases have been confirmed in Alberta so far.
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