The provincial government insists there is no shortage of the new high-dose flu vaccine for seniors, even though frustrated seniors have been contacting opposition MPPs and the Star to say they are having trouble finding it.

“Why are we hearing from constituent after constituent about the challenges of accessing the flu shot for seniors in our province?” NDP Deputy Leader Sara Singh asked during Question Period on Thursday.

In response, Health Minister Christine Elliott said there is an adequate supply of the high-dose vaccine.

“I stress there is no shortage,” she said, adding that anyone having trouble finding it should call her office.

The provincial government last year announced that it was going to make the high-dose shot available to seniors beginning this flu season. It provides more protection than the regular flu shot to those with compromised immune systems.

It is supposed to be available through primary care providers, for example family doctors and nurse practitioners, as well as in settings such as long-term care homes, participating retirement homes and hospitals.

It is not being made available through pharmacies.

But last week, the Star began hearing from seniors who were encountering difficulties in getting it from family doctors.

“I discovered I would not, in fact, be getting my seniors’ level of flu shot from my GP as they were not sent enough of it. As suggested, subsequent daily calls to see if they’ve heard when to expect its arrival indicate no one has a clue,” senior Miriam Harris said.

In response to inquiries from the Star, ministry spokesperson David Jensen said: “There definitely is not a shortage.”

Singh told the legislature that the NDP had contacted 20 clinics across the province and that 12 said they had not been able to obtain any of the high-dose vaccine or had run out. The others said supplies are running low.

Patients of the Taddle Creek Family Health Team in Toronto have seen this message when they log onto the clinic’s patient portal: “We DO NOT have the Fluzone High Dose flu vaccine for 65 and older and have not been given a date when this will be delivered. This flu vaccine in NOT available at local pharmacies.

“This is the recommended vaccine for people age 65 and older, but those 65 and older can receive the flu shot for the general public, although it will be less effective.”

Elliott said there might be some confusion over where to get the high-dose shot as it is not being made available in pharmacies:

“We have not been advised in the ministry that there have been any significant concerns with accessing the vaccine. There may be from one location to another, but there are many locations where one can go to receive the vaccine and I would encourage people to continue looking, calling around to make sure that that actual location has the vaccine in quantities that are necessary.”

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The province recommends that everyone six months of age and older should get the flu shot. The vaccine is publicly covered and can also be obtained in clinics run by municipal public health units.

Children between the ages of 2 and 17 years can get the vaccine as a shot or nasal spray.

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