OPH aiming to avoid 'twindemic' by nearly doubling flu shots

Ottawa Public Health says it wants to nearly double the number of people in the city who get the annual flu shot to hopefully avoid a possible "twindemic."

Normally, about 40 per cent ofOttawa residents getthe vaccine. This year, due to the dual threats ofthe spread of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu,the city's medical officer of health wants to see that rise to 70 per cent.

"If you don't normally get the flu shot, we're encouraging you to get one this year," said Dr. Vera Etches during the Ottawa board of health meeting on Monday night.

"There is a potential for a rise in people with COVID and the flu, which could make people very ill and certainly overwhelm our emergency departments."

• Health experts urge Canadians to get flu shot in hopes of avoiding 'twindemic'
• Why doctors think you should get the flu shot this year and soon

Etches acknowledgedthe goal is "ambitious" but saidOttawa Public Health (OPH)already has a plan to roll out more vaccines to more people.

OPH will be running six flu shot clinics at fixed locations around Ottawa and providing vaccines directly to harder-to-reach people, such asthose living in shelters or group homes, with help from the Red Cross.

Patients canbook an appointment ahead of time andthere will be more personal protective equipment, distancing, cleaning and attention paid to prevent crowds from forming.

OPH will also be providing safe clinical spaces for family doctorsto administer shots.

"This collaboration will help address some of the challenges that community primary care providers are identifying when it comes to limitations with their offices' ability to handle influenza immunizations in this time of COVID," Etches said.

Pharmacists are also administering the shots as in past years, although Etches saidit's not yet clear how that will roll out with Ontario'splanned COVID-19 testing at drug stores.

Number of doses for Ottawa still unknown

Nearly doubling the number of flu shots in Ottawa will mean an increased need for supply. Etches said the province has ordered more doses but OPH still doesn't know exactly how many vials it will receive.

Last year, OPH ran out of a special, high-dose version of the flu shotdesigned for people over age 65.

The first delivery of this season's flu shots is expected in early October and theywill begin to be administered shortly thereafter, Etches said.

WATCH |Ontario pediatricians worried about flu shot access:

Ontario pediatricians concerned about meeting flu shot demand

4 years ago

Duration 3:35

Pediatricians in Ontario are sounding the alarm on the lack of financial and logistical support needed to meet the demand for flu vaccines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.