Carolyn Grant

As reported earlier this week, the supply of flu vaccine in the Interior Health region is tightening.

Due to that tightened supply, IH will no longer be providing pharmacies with the vaccine for publicly-funded shots.

“Interior Health does provide community vaccine providers, like pharmacies, with vaccine for people who meet provincial criteria and are eligible for a publicly-funded (ie. free) flu shot,” IH Communications Officer Karl Hardt said.

“However, IH is unable to provide community vaccine providers (e.g. pharmacists) with influenza vaccine at this time.

“We are seeing a significant public demand for influenza vaccine while experiencing a rapidly depleted inventory.

“In order to ensure equity among pharmacists it was determined that remaining vaccine would only be held by health centres during this period of vaccine shortages.”

Hardt said residents should call a local health centre to arrange to be immunized as health unit supply is continually changing due to increased demand.

IH will regularly monitor vaccine supplies and the situation will be re-assessed in the following weeks.