Central Oregon seeing a surge in demand for flu vaccine
Providers are encouraging people to get the shot earlier than usual.
BEND, Ore (KTVZ) -- Some experts are warning of a "twindemic" in this country, with both the coronavirus and the seasonal flu. So many people are taking precautions, like getting the flu shot.
But, this year, that could be a little harder.
“It was quite difficult,” Bend resident Sarah Wolcott said of her flu shot experience on Wednesday. “It was the hardest time length-wise that I’ve ever experienced here in my lifetime getting a flu shot. It took about two hours.”
Wolcott went to a Walgreens in Bend to get the vaccine, something she does every year.
Another Bend resident, Anna Stringer added: “I have tried to get one at the Walgreens, and you have to make an appointment -- and I used to be able to walk in there.”
A different Walgreens in Bend told NewsChannel 21 they’ve given about 60 to 70 percent more flu shots already this year. compared to last.
A Bend Rite Aid also tells us they are giving about 40 to 50 shots a day, compared to 15 to 20 around this time last year.
The strong early demand in the vaccine is something that pleased Dr. Albert Noyes, the director of pharmacy services for Mosaic Medical.
“So far, uptick has been great,” Noyes said Wednesday.
Noyes said Mosaic has administered around 500 flu shots thus far this year. Typically, they would just be getting started with inoculations.
“2020 has put personal health care in the forefront of a lot of people’s minds.” Noyes said. “And among the healthy decisions we can make for staying healthy against the current pandemic is getting a flu shot.”
And the more people that do it, the easier this winter could be.
“If the health care system has to fight an overwhelming number of cases of flu, at the same time the pandemic is going on, people generally understand that’s a bad thing,” Noyes said.
