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Flu shots at pharmacy a popular option: Halton MOH by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Friday, October 9, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Halton pharmacies continue to play a larger role in administering the annual flu shot. Last season, 93 pharmacies across the region delivered 40,850 doses of the influenza vaccine. Those numbers are up from the year before, when 78 pharmacies delivered 33,170 shots. The statistics were included in a report shared with Halton regional council's health and social services committee meeting Tuesday (Oct. 6). "Last year, in the urban areas of Halton, more than 98 per cent of residents were well within two kilometres of a pharmacy that provided flu shots," Halton's Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. Hamidah Meghani shared with committee members. "A pharmacy is often just around the corner and more accessible than our community clinics," she said. Family physicians' offices also remain a popular choice of where residents get vaccinated, delivering 91,210 doses of the flu shot last season. At the same time, community clinics saw a decline in visitors -- from 7,472 in 2013-2014 to 5,910 last season. As Halton Region's Health Department (HRHD) begins to roll out its influenza immunization program, it's looking at making some changes given the recent data. Through a "health equity lens," the HRHD plans to focus on improving accessibility and reaching the most vulnerable in Halton with its influenza immunization community clinics, said Meghani. Currently, pharmacies aren't allowed to administer the influenza vaccine to children under the age of five or those without health cards (refugees, new immigrants and international students). Meghani said that through use of Census and birth data to identify areas with a high density of children under five years old, the community clinics are being planned to address the gap in the pharmacies' services as well as serve those who are older, have chronic diseases, visual impairment, hearing loss and mobility issues. A total of 12 community clinics will be located throughout Halton. In Oakville, they will be offered: · Oct. 15 at Oakville Seniors' Recreation Centre, 263 Kerr St., from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. · Oct. 21 at Iroquois Ridge High School, 1123 Glenashton Dr., 4-8 p.m. · Oct. 28 at Abbey Park High School, 1455 Glen Abbey Gate, 4-8 p.m. · Dec. 10 at the Halton Regional Centre, 1151 Bronte Rd., from 4-8 p.m. · Jan. 14, 2016 at the Halton Regional Centre from 4-8 p.m. In Burlington, community clinics will be offered: · Oct. 13 at Burlington Seniors' Centre, 2285 New St., from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. · Oct. 26 at L.B. Pearson High School, 1433 Headon Rd., from 4-8 p.m. · Nov. 3 at Robert Bateman High School, 515 New St., from 4-8 p.m. In Milton, community clinics will be offered: · Oct. 16 at the Milton Seniors' Activity Centre, 500 Childs Dr., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. · Oct. 27 at Hawthorne Village Public School, 850 Bennett Blvd., from 4-8 p.m. In Halton Hills, community clinics will be offered: · Oct. 19 at Hillsview Active Living Centre, 318 Guelph St., Unit 9, from 1-8 p.m. · Oct. 20 at Acton Arena & Community Centre, 415 Queen St. E., from 1-8 p.m. The HRHD also plans to continue and expand distribution of the vaccine to pharmacies and physicians. Staff will also enhance scrutiny of vaccine ordering practices and the monitoring and reporting of cold chain failures and vaccine wastage. For more information, visit halton.ca/flu. Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? Plantar Warts? We can help! 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