BC doctors receive limited flu shots in a ‘ridiculously inefficient’ system

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Some GPs have called the province’s decision to give them only a limited number of doses of the flu, aimed at those without access to vaccination clinics, both absurd and inefficient.

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The majority of vaccines will be routed to pharmacies and clinics as part of the BC-wide rollout, with booking made through the province’s GetVaccinated system, which will be used for COVID-19 vaccinations.

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Salt Spring doctor Clare Rustad, who has experience running a clinic that vaccinated up to 1,500 patients in a weekend, had planned with six colleagues to vaccinate about 450 patients against the flu in one day — until her and many other GPs were told by the Health Authority this week that “under no circumstances would they provide us with flu shots for this purpose”.

On social media on Wednesday, Rustad criticized what she called the “layers of [expensive] Bureaucracy higher up that dreamed up this ridiculously inefficient delivery system.”

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A Saanich doctor who said his patients ask him for a flu shot called the province’s vaccination schedule “really stupid”.

The Times Colonist obtained Island Health’s Instructions to Physicians, which directs doctors to order flu vaccines only for patients who would have difficulty accessing vaccination clinics — for example, those with mobility issues.

“Due to the very limited vaccine supply in the 2022-2023 season, physicians are only allowed to offer influenza to those who need home visits,” the public health memo for Island Health reads, adding, “Influenza vaccine ordering by the primary care provider should begin this season.” be the ‘exception’ and not the ‘norm’.”

The rationale is that flu shots will be more readily available through health agency clinics that offer both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, and through entire community clinics through October and November.

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“That’s why GPs are burning out,” Rustad wrote. “We literally came up with a plan for a flu shot clinic and bought into every single member of our clinic. … My patients are desperate for flu shots. I really don’t want to see the flu this winter.”

Rustad said patients have been asking for flu shots since August. The median age in her community is 55, and people are “very concerned about not getting the flu,” she said. But now patients are unnecessarily waiting for invitations from the province’s GetVaccinated system, she said. “Why create vaccination barriers? Just vaccinate people as soon as possible.”

Comox Valley’s GP, Dr. Nancy McFadden said a 92-year-old patient tried to book a flu vaccine. The patient’s child reported calling the provincial 1-800 number for three days before getting through.

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The 92-year-old patient had a choice of Campbell River, 45 to 60 minutes’ drive away, or Cumberland, 20 to 30 minutes’ drive away. At that point, McFadden called a nearby pharmacy that offered walk-in flu shots, but that pharmacist said all of their vaccines were spoken by people who booked through the GetVaccinated website.

“So this 92-year-old cannot go to his own pharmacy to get his vaccine, instead his family has to drive him 30 minutes to do so when he is within walking distance of his own pharmacy and the pharmacists he knows,” McFadden said . “Very frustrating indeed.”

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

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

The launch was plagued by technical issues as many people tried to call the GetVaccinated hotline (1-833-838-2323) who couldn’t get through. “People have been trying to get through on the phone for hours,” Bawa said. Even when people get an invite to book a shot, they’re often told when they go online that there’s nothing available in their area, he said.

In response to questions from the Times Colonist, the Department of Health issued a statement saying that sending the first batch of influenza vaccines to public health department pharmacies and clinics “supports the urgent need to provide both.” [COVID-19 and influenza] Vaccines for as many members of the public as possible.”

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

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