MIKE ATHEY
PONTIAC Oct. 21, 2020
The flu shot is coming to the Pontiac and medical professionals are gearing up to deliver the vaccine while respecting social distancing measures.
Walk-in flu shot clinics were cancelled this year due to COVID-19 and residents will have to . . .
book an appointment at a health clinic, pharmacy or doctor’s office in order to receive it.
“The goal is of course to avoid gatherings of several people in the same place,” said CISSSO media relations agent Marie-Pier Després.
CISSSO plans to go to senior’s residences and nursing homes to offer vaccinations on site. Initial doses have been reserved for the long-term care and home-care population.
Though the vaccine hasn’t arrived for general public use, the Groupe de Médecine Familiale du Pontiac (GMF du Pontiac) has received calls for several weeks asking for information about how people can get the shot. On Oct. 15, they began booking patients using the Clic Santé portal website.
Marc Aufranc, the pharmacist at Familiprix in Shawville, is unsure when and how many doses of the vaccine they will receive, but are taking appointments as well in anticipation.
“I would be surprised not to see it before the second of November,” said Aufranc.
They will be running an appointment-based flu clinic between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays but those were mostly filled up. With two pharmacists, one will handle the shot, while the other will maintain the pharmacy.
“I don’t want people lining up in the pharmacy,” said Aufranc, “So that’s why we book.”
He is unsure exactly how much people will be charged for the vaccine but suggested it would be around $30, but free to exempted groups.
According to CISSSO, the flu vaccine is not free to residents of Quebec unless they are part of an exception group: those older than 75, people over six months in age with relevant chronic diseases, certain pregnant women, health care workers, and those in regular direct contact with one of the previous groups who’s vaccination could prevent harm.
“If they are not part of the groups targeted for free vaccination, they will have to find a place that offers vaccination themselves and pay for it,” said Duprés.
Furthermore, Duprés said that public health would not be making the flu shot available to those outside the exemption group.
“It is not possible to receive vaccination without being part of the target groups other than in pharmacies and the private sector,” said Duprés.
Danielle Romain of the GMF du Pontiac said they weren’t given instructions to withhold the flu vaccine from any patients, but they may prioritize vaccines for higher risk groups.
“I don’t see us turning away patients,” said Romain.
Romain suggested patients contact their family doctor for more information.
On Oct. 14, the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Theresa Tam, released a statement that addressed the upcoming flu season.
“Getting the flu shot protects you and those around you, providing you protection from infection and serious illness, and reducing the likelihood of you spreading the illness to others,” wrote Tam. “By keeping you and others healthier, the flu shot is also an important prevention measure to help reduce the burden on Canada’s health care system during this unprecedented time.”
