TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 25, 2014) - More than 750,000 Ontarians -- triple the number from last season -- received the free flu shot at close to 2,000 pharmacies throughout the province this flu season.
More than 250,000 got the shot in 2012-13, the first season in which approved Ontario pharmacies could administer the vaccine.
"We're delighted by the success of the flu shot program," said Dennis Darby, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association. "The growth in the number of people who received the flu shot at a pharmacy this season is a testament to the fact that Ontarians have a high level of trust in their pharmacist to provide convenient, high quality health care services. It's a win for the public and government."
The flu shot initiative is an important part of the expanding role of Ontario pharmacists.
According to a 2013 Ipsos Reid survey, completed on behalf of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, only 53 per cent of Ontarians are aware that pharmacists do more than dispense medication. In fact, the full range of services that pharmacists are qualified to provide now ranges from medication management and the flu shot to support, information, and education about chronic conditions (such as high blood pressure and diabetes) and common ailments.
Several weeks remain in the flu season, which in Canada generally runs from mid-October to mid-April. The Ontario Pharmacists Association is encouraging those who haven't yet received the flu vaccine to visit their local pharmacy and get the shot, which offers protection against three strains of flu, including H1N1.
About the Ontario Pharmacists Association
The Ontario Pharmacists Association is committed to evolving the pharmacy profession, and advocating for excellence in practice and optimum health care for all Ontario patients. As the largest advocacy organization, and continuing education and drug information provider for pharmacy professionals in Canada, the association represents more than 14,500 pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians across Ontario. By leveraging the unique expertise of pharmacy professionals, by enabling them to practice to their fullest potential, and by making them more accessible to all Ontarians, OPA and its more than 8,200 members are working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the province's healthcare system.
Follow us on Twitter @OntPharmacists
Like us on Facebook http://on.fb.me/1mfwLWu
Contact Information:
Lindsay George
Manager, Communications and Membership
416.441.0788 x 4236
lgeorge@opatoday.com