“I have been giving shots since 2013. This is the first time we’ve seen this kind of demand,” said Azad.
She had tried to order more doses every day since Wednesday, and has only received a small additional quantity. As of Monday, orders were not going through.
“We’ve been working with what we received. We’ll just try ordering every day.”
Azad believes more vaccine will be available, it’s just a matter of when.
“It’s a waiting game. We just have to be patient.”
During question period on Monday, Health Minister Christine Elliott said more than a million flu shots have been administered so far, compared to 150,000 at this time last year.
Speaking to reporters, Premier Doug Ford said the province had ordered a million more doses of vaccine this year than last year and is “doing everything we can to make sure as many people get vaccinated as possible.”
But he also put the blame for the cancelled appointments on Rexall.
“You knew the allocations that you had,” he said. “So don’t overbook people. It’s very simple.”
Ontario has already spent $70 million on flu vaccine and has allocated $26.5 million for additional vaccine through the national bulk procurement programs if they become available from manufacturers.
The province continues to receive regular shipments of its total order, in addition to continuing to explore all options to procure additional flu vaccine doses, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Health.
Last week, Elliott spoke to federal Heath Minister Patty Hadju “to request that the federal government work with manufacturers to deliver the remainder of the province’s doses purchased through its national bulk purchasing program at an accelerated rate, as well as explore the provision of additional doses beyond what was procured.”
The province is also in conversations with private sector partners about additional opportunities to procure supply.
Influenza cases on the national and Ontario surveillance systems are low for this time of year compared to previous years, he said.
“This is evidence that the historic uptake of the flu vaccine, in addition to the safe hygiene practices being practised diligently by all Ontarians, is working and will continue to work as we move through the fall and winter season.”
Source:- Ottawa Citizen
