Cape Breton pharmacist due to vaccination fatigue | SaltWire

PORT HAWKESBURY — A Cape Breton pharmacist is urging residents not to fall victim to vaccine fatigue.

Michael Hatt, owner of The Medicine Shoppe in Port Hawkesbury, said he has concerns some people will pass on a flu shot this season because they may be fed up with being stabbed in the arm after multiple rounds of COVID-19 vaccine injections to become.

“I think what we’re going to see is that people get a little overwhelmed with vaccines,” said Hatt, who will have a PhD in 2021. Robert Strang Community Award, named after Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

“Last year we’ve seen a drop in the number of people taking flu vaccines and I think it’s vaccine glut and that’s unfortunate as we hope everyone who needs and wants one gets one. Some people are now on their fourth or fifth COVID shot and I think it’s because people are fed up with being bitten.

Hatt also encourages people who think they don’t need a flu shot to reconsider, because even if they don’t get sick, they can pass the flu on to vulnerable members of society.

“Not everyone necessarily needs a flu shot to prevent flu, but they should consider others when making their decision,” he said.

“The problem is passing it on to someone who is frail or has a compromised immune system. So the fear is that someone strong enough to fight off the flu could pass it on to someone who doesn’t have a chance to fight. It could be fatal or cause serious illness.”

Administration of an influenza vaccine

Although the flu season is not officially here yet, the province is currently organizing this year’s vaccination distribution.

Khalehla Perrault, communications consultant for Nova Scotia’s health and wellness department, said the province is expected to make an announcement next week about how and when people can book their flu shots appointments. Perrault said the province advises all Nova Scotians, especially those at high risk of complications, over the age of six to get a flu shot. All flu shots are provided free of charge.

According to Hatt, the province is making changes to the way flu shots are given.

“The flu shots belong to the province, while pharmacists and others are the providers of the injections,” he explained.

“We have to stick to the provincial plan. It looks like the province will schedule flu shots in the same way they do with COVID shots.”

In a recent update to healthcare providers, the province said pharmacists will use an app called Clinic Flow to book appointments and document receipt of vaccines.

ONLINE PROBLEMS

Hatt, who owns an old ambulance that he’s converted into a portable flu vaccination clinic, said the new format is good from an organizational perspective but could pose problems in some cases when administering doses in some rural areas.

“We’re still in the planning stages when it comes to running private clinics and going into rural communities,” he said.

“Our biggest problem is going to be internet access because we have to log everything through the online app and in some of the places we go we might have trouble getting internet access.”

OTHER SOURCES

In addition to getting a flu shot at a pharmacy, Nova Scotians can also get a vaccine from GPs, home nurses, and orderlies. Many workplaces also offer flu shot clinics, as do some walk-in clinics. Shots will also be available to people living in nursing homes, residential care facilities and hospitals.

Flu shots for people over the age of five can be given anytime before or after COVID-19 shots. Infants under six months are not eligible.

People at high risk of flu-related complications or hospitalizations include children under the age of five, people with certain chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, the elderly and indigenous peoples.

For more information about flu shots, contact qualified healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.