About 324,000 flu shot doses have been ordered by Island Health, an increase of 60,000 over last year. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

flu season

Extra flu shots ordered to meet anticipated demand on Vancouver Island

Oct 16, 2020 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — Public health clinics, pharmacists and physicians are gearing up to roll up more sleeves than usual this fall and winter.

Island Health has ordered 324,000 flu shots for the region this year, an increase of 60,000 over the previous annual flu campaign.

South Island medical health officer Dr. Dee Hoyano said flu shots through public health clinics will be available starting next week.

She said it’s especially important to have a high flu vaccination rate this year.

“The less influenza illness we have the less people will need to get tested or rule out COVID illnesses as well.”

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She said the World Health Organization created a vastly different vaccine this year, noting last year’s offering was “quite effective”.

Dr. Hoyano said health officials in the southern hemisphere noted preventative COVID-19 measures of staying home while sick and increased hand washing and mask wearing had positive impacts.

“It has really been effective in actually keeping influenza activity low,” Dr. Hoyano said. “That’s important as well as getting the vaccine, we’re just encouraging people to keep those practices up.”

The majority of flu shots on Vancouver Island are available through pharmacists and physicians.

Dr. Hoyano encouraged people looking to get their flu vaccination through public health clinics to book their appointment online.

She advised people to take advantage of the flu vaccine as soon as possible, noting it takes a few weeks for the vaccine to fully kick in.

“We want to have people immunized before we get into December,” Dr. Hoyano told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Complications from the flu leads to an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 deaths in Canada annually, Dr. Hoyano said.

She noted nearly 300 people were hospitalized on Vancouver Island due to last year’s flu season.

Locations of all flu immunization clinics in the province can be found here, while online bookings for Island Health public health flu clinics can be made here.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes