BC doctors only get limited flu shots in ‘ridiculously inefficient’ system

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Some family doctors describe as absurd and inefficient the province’s decision to administer only a limited number of doses against the flu, aimed at those who cannot access vaccination clinics.

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Most of the vaccines are being funneled to pharmacies and clinics under rollout throughout BC, with reservation through the province’s GetVaccinated system being used for COVID-19 vaccines.

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Salt Spring doctor Clare Rustad, who has experience running a clinic that vaccinates up to 1,500 patients in a weekend, had planned with six colleagues to immunize about 450 patients against the flu in one day, until she and many other doctors The family learned from the health authority this week that “under no circumstances would they provide us with flu vaccines for this purpose.”

On social media Wednesday, Rustad criticized what he called the “layers of [expensive] top bureaucracy that devised this ridiculously inefficient delivery system.”

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A Saanich doctor who said his patients are asking him for a flu shot called the province’s immunization plan “really stupid”.

The Times Colonist obtained Island Health’s instructions to doctors, telling them to order the flu shot only for patients who would have difficulty accessing vaccination clinics, such as those with mobility issues.

“Due to the very limited supply of vaccines in the 2022-2023 season, clinicians can only offer influenza to those who require home visits,” the public health nursing memorandum for Island Health says, adding: “Ordering influenza vaccines influenza for primary care providers should be the ‘exception’ and not the ‘norm’ this season”.

The reason is that influenza vaccines will be more accessible through health authority clinics that provide COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, and community-wide clinics during October and November.

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“This is why family doctors are running out,” Rustad wrote. “We literally came up with a flu shot clinic plan and we were accepted by every member of our clinic. … My patients are desperate to get a flu shot. I am desperate not to see influenza this winter.”

Rustad said patients have been asking about flu shots since August. The median age in her community is 55, and people are “very anxious not to get the flu,” she said. Now, however, patients needlessly wait for invitations from the provincial GetVaccinated system, she said. “Why create barriers to immunization? Just immunize people as quickly as possible.”

Comox Valley family doctor Dr. Nancy McFadden said a 92-year-old patient was trying to book a flu shot. The patient’s son reported calling the province’s 1-800 number for three days before reaching out.

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The 92-year-old patient was given the option of going to Campbell River, a 45- to 60-minute drive, or to Cumberland, a 20- to 30-minute drive. At this point, McFadden called a nearby pharmacy that advertised walk-in flu shots, but that pharmacist said all of his shots were ordered by people who booked through the GetVaccinated site.

“So this 92-year-old man can’t go to his own pharmacy to get his vaccine, instead his family will have to drive them 30 minutes to get it, when they’re within walking distance of their own pharmacy, and the pharmacists they know,” McFadden said. “Very frustrating actually.”

Pharmacist Vikram Bawa said he will hold a walk-in clinic Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at his Fort Royal Pharmacy in Oak Bay for those requesting their flu shots, many of whom are seniors. “No one is doing walk-in clinics for the flu shot,” Bawa said.

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While people are instructed to wait for photo invitations, many who aren’t tech-savvy or haven’t received their invitations are concerned, he said. “The system that the government is making is quite confusing.”

The launch has been plagued with technical issues, with many people trying to call the GetVaccinated line (1-833-838-2323) unable to get through. “People have been trying to communicate for hours on the phone,” Bawa said. Even if people get an invitation to book a shot, when they go online, they’re often told nothing is available in their neighborhood, she said.

In response to questions from the Times Colonist, the Health Ministry issued a statement saying that sending the initial allocation of influenza vaccine to health authority pharmacies and clinics “supports the urgent need to provide both [COVID-19 and influenza] vaccinate as many members of the public as possible.”

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The ministry said it plans to send more flu vaccines to doctors in late October when more supplies are available, noting that the fall flu campaign started about two weeks earlier than in previous years and, to date, they have given about 140,000 flu shots. .

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