I’m sitting here on a Saturday morning watching my girls make rainbows out of clay while Minecraft videos are playing on the laptop. Outside the window, the browning oak leaves are fluttering in a way that dares me to attempt some raking before they fall and completely cover the yard again. It’s shaping up to be a beautiful, quiet day. I realize they haven’t been very plentiful as of late; it’s year three of the pharmacist flu-shot blitz so like many of my colleagues, we are doing our best to accommodate the current demand for our services.

In Nova Scotia, now that we find ourselves riding in our third flu-shot rodeo (wait for public health to say, ‘go’, and hang on for as long as outbreaks are a possibility), the mood has definitely shifted.

In year one (fall 2013), pharmacy teams were unsure of public acceptance of this new skill. The regional deployment of vaccine to different providers created some confusion and shortages. There was also a scary incident out west where 5 flu-related deaths after the New Year  prompted a second surge of vaccination demand.

For last flu season, we were much better prepared. The method of vaccine distribution was more straightforward, and contacts made from the previous year made planning off-site clinics seamless. The impact on workflow was known, so pharmacists were able to factor in the additional time between prescriptions, or have additional staff members available for clinics. Staying ahead of the documentation paperwork was, and still is difficult, but the forms are familiar.

This year feels like we have been emboldened in a whole new way. Pharmacists are being sought out like never before to hold clinics, to attend workplace events, and educate community groups on the benefits of the vaccination. Many sites have set goals for themselves and are excited about their increased capacity. Increasingly, family physicians recognize that we are complementing their services by creating awareness and reaching more patients than ever before.

In my site, we offer vaccination services to our long-term care facilities. We cater to facility staff, residents and their families. The coordination has been fantastic, but allowing a pharmacist to be off-site three afternoons a week means that long-hours are required to run the dispensary. Even with the planning, regular tasks fall behind. My to-do list grows longer by the day, but it’s a good investment of my time to keep my team engaged and really challenge some folks to step up when we’re a bit tight on staff.

The time of year is significant as well. Vaccines were released on Oct 5th, giving us less than 12 weeks before the holiday season. Finding slots for shopping, putting winter tires on the car, servicing the snowblower, coordinating Christmas parties, etc. add weight to an already heavy load. In recent years, I’ve had to resort to taking vacation time in order to line up the tasks above for efficient completion. Not that I’m saying that taking a holiday is necessary, but it’s my strategy to manage the busyness and chaos.

It’s the nature of the beast, this profession; we’re in it for the patients and their needs. We work long hours to get the job done and the weeks have a way of blending together. The public health need at the moment is providing access to the flu vaccine. Not all of us inject, but we can all educate as to the benefits and cover dispensing duties to allow appointments to be kept, and clinics to be run. The reward of gratitude can be seen immediately. The mother of three that all get their shots at the grocery store while they pick up a few last-minute items. The real-estate agent who pops in around supper hour between house showings. A young child realizes that the quick needle isn’t as traumatic as originally thought.

So roll up those lab-coat sleeves and get your hands dirty. On second thought, let’s review proper hand-washing technique instead…

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.