‘Our numbers have tripled’: How many flu shot doses have been distributed throughout Simcoe-Muskoka this fall?

Dr. Steven Poirier is getting tired of turning away his patients.

The Barrie family physician says his office has only been able to secure about 300 regular and 60 high-dosage shots of the influenza vaccine this year, not nearly enough to help his patient list — which includes about 800 seniors.

A high-dosage version of the vaccine is generally recommended for people over the age of 65, who are at greater risk of developing severe complications from the flu, he said.

“We’re getting a minimum amount and have to offer them on a first come, first serve basis to those who qualify,” said Poirier, who also spoke on behalf of the Ontario Medical Association.

“That’s not nearly enough, especially when the message across the province is to push the flu vaccine as much as you can. That message has resonated with our population because they’ve been calling and coming into the office, asking for the shot. Even those who have not gotten it in the past are coming out of the woodwork.”

He said his office has been told it can’t order more doses of either version for the foreseeable future.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit says about 240,000 doses of the vaccine — including 30,000 high-dose shots — have been distributed throughout its jurisdiction this fall. That’s more than triple the normal amount.

These doses are typically doled out to pharmacies, family practices and vaccination clinics.

“Our numbers have tripled,” health unit immunization program manager Deanna Thompson said. “Locally, we’ve received over our allocation that we normally get and we’ve almost exhausted it. We’ve asked for more every week. The (Ontario government) is aware of the local shortage; we’re getting trickles of doses. But we’ve worked really hard with local family health teams that are running larger community clinics to ensure they have enough of the vaccine to be running mass immunization.”

The increased demand may be due to a campaign by the province and local health units, which urges residents to get the flu shot to lower their risk of illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. While Ontario did order more doses than normal during spring procurement, it may not have anticipated such high interest, she said.

“More people want the vaccine this year than any other,” Thompson said. “Is it related to the COVID pandemic? Probably.”

Poirier has run a practice in Barrie for the last five years; this is its most difficult period.

“(We’re) trying to navigate a pandemic and care for patients who should be getting care but are afraid to because of the pandemic,” he said. “Now, with influenza and cold season upon us, it’s very difficult to decide if it’s COVID, the flu, a cold or bacterial pneumonia. It’s really starting to take its toll.”

If you still need a shot in the arm, call a pharmacy — most have easier access than family doctors to the vaccine and can squeeze you in within a week or two. Once the appointment is booked, “be patient,” Thompson said.

“This is the normal time you would get vaccinated.”

For more information on local flu shot clinics, visit .