Flu vaccine scarce at pharmacies

P.E.I. pharmacies say they are running out of the flu vaccine.              

Two weeks ago, the Department of Health provided pharmacies with 4,500 vaccine doses. When those were gone, another 2,500 were sent out.

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Now those are almost all gone, says Erin MacKenzie, executive director of the P.E.I. Pharmacists Association.              

"We have had patients coming in looking for the flu shot," she said.

"So what we've been doing now is referring these patients to public health clinics that may still have an access point there for them, or their family doctor who may also have some vaccine."              

MacKenzie says pharmacies are hoping to receive more doses. However, no one with the Department of Health was able to say Thursday whether that will happen.

This is the first year pharmacists have been allowed to administer the vaccine.

It can cost more for Islanders to get their flu shot at a pharmacy. There's no set rate but some are charging $14.

The vaccine costs $7 at a provincial flu clinic, but is free for seniors, pregnant women, people living with pregnant women, children under five, people who identify as aboriginal and residents of community care facilities.

Meanwhile, Health PEI has announced several flu clinics in Charlottetown and Summerside will operate next week on a walk-in basis, with no appointment necessary. Locations for those public health nursing clinics are listed here.