B.C. pharmacies prepare flu and COVID booster shots for October

Shipments of this year’s flu vaccine are showing up at pharmacies and clinics all over B.C. as they get ready to administer the shot.

We are entering a time of year when people head indoors and the spread of the common cold, flu, and COVID-19 could really take off, says Vice President of Pharmacy and Health Care Innovation at London Drugs Chris Chiew.

He says final preparations are being made behind the scenes so you can book an appointment for the flu shot in early October.

Chiew says you will be able to get both your flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster shot at the same time.

“Through the NACI recommendations and all the various studies that we’ve seen is that they have shown that it is actually safe to take at the same time. You just have to remember to watch out that anytime you put things in your body, there’s going to be a possible reaction, so make sure you stay around the pharmacy or clinic to stick around for 10-15 minutes after so they can monitor you.”

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He says they’ve been recruiting nurses and pharmacy students for the last couple of months to help prepare for what they expect to be a spike in appointments, in addition to hiring extra staff in stores.

“We are short pharmacists. However, I think the combination between the nurses we have, the pharmacists, and plus we hired third and fourth year pharmacy students who have been certified to inject.”

Chiew says this year’s flu strain is expected to be bad and immunity doesn’t kick in for about a week after your shot. The veteran pharmacist says the flu season doesn’t typically begin until about mid October and it typically lasts until the end of February or early March.

“That’s what we want to definitely want to watch out for, that first real get-together indoors of the holiday season will be the October long weekend. People may start getting a scratchy throat and think, ‘I’ll be okay,’ and go into a big environment, but that’s when your viral load is really starting to increase and that’s when you’re most vulnerable.”

Chiew says getting your shot is just one layer of protection.

He says the same steps we’ve been taking for COVID-19, like washing hands, masking, and staying home if you’re unwell, apply in lowering the risk of getting the flu as well.

In the meantime, the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is being offered to those getting their COVID booster shot right now. As the province previously announced, invitations will be sent out based on people’s risk and age as long as it’s been six months since their previous shot.

To get an invitation for your COVID-19 booster shot, you have to be registered with Get Vaccinated B.C. or you can call 1.833.838.2323. You can find more information here.