Flu Vaccine Returns Program 2023/24

The provincial influenza vaccination campaign begins each year in October. Influenza vaccine is offered to BC residents at community COVID-19 booster clinics, pharmacies, as well as physician and nurse practitioner offices.

Yes. The Influenza vaccine is recommended and provided free for all BC residents ≥ 6 months of age. In particular, the influenza vaccine should be offered to individuals at high risk of influenza complications (children 6-59 months, seniors, pregnant women, people 5-64 years with underlying chronic health conditions), those in contact with people at high risk including visitors to health care facilities, people who provide essential community service providers, and anyone else who wishes to reduce their risk of influenza.

There will be enough supply in BC for all residents who want to be immunized. Similar to last year, participating offices will receive a start-up supply. As VCH expects several vaccine deliveries, clinics will be able to re-order modest amounts.

Yes. The Vancouver Division has once again partnered with MTS Logistics/Medi-Tran Services to support member primary care clinics with vaccination delivery during October and November (extended to March 2024). This Division-funded support allows delivery of vaccinations in a safe and timely manner from your designated CHC vaccination depot directly to your clinic.

This year member clinics can have their initial allocation and re-orders delivered by MTS.

Your clinic should have received a communication from VCH about initial vaccine allocations and the option for delivery of your initial allocation. If you haven’t received VCH communication or haven’t replied, please email CDCVaccines@vch.ca and andrew.reyes@vch.ca.

VCH will contact the clinic to discuss what day/time is best for vaccine delivery. This information will be passed to MTS. During the week of October 3rd MTS will begin delivery as VCH packages the vaccine allocation.

VCH will contact the clinic to let the clinic know the date that you can come to your usual local health unit for pickup.

VCH allows anyone associated with the clinic to pick up vaccine. It does NOT have to be a physician. Everyone is expected to transport the vaccine in a way that supports the cold chain.

This is unchanged from prior years. Best practice requires a cooler, cold water blankets and ice packs. Keep in mind that pre-filled syringe format products require much more space than multidose vials for transport & storage.

Vaccines available this year include Fluzone Quadrivalent, Flumist and Fluad. You will likely be offered some of each product.
NB: As of 10 October 2023, Flumist is no longer available while Fluad vaccine will be available end of October.

The supply chain for flu vaccines involves manufacturing and then transport between several organizations. Flu vaccine is delivered from the different manufacturers on different dates to the BCCDC (the provincial depot), and from there it is distributed to the Health Authorities.

VCH distributes all of the vaccine it receives as quickly as it can once it is received centrally from the BCCDC.

We recommend that you schedule your high-volume clinics based on vaccine distributed to your office in early October. You may be able to book additional high volume clinics in late October; please wait for supply updates and let us know how much vaccine you may need for those late clinics (based on appointment bookings). Please email pcn@vancouverdivision.com

UBC students are available and many would love an opportunity to see the “system in action” during flu vaccination season. Some of the ways you could fold medical students into your clinic:

1. Administering vaccinations (under supervision of the FP or a nurse)
2. Patient welcome/screening pre-vaccination and/or monitoring post-vaccination
3. Collecting patient ID and injection information for future EMR updates

Most volunteer medical students are Years 1 & 2, and availability of all medical students is generally higher on weekends, in the evening, and Tuesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons.

NOTE THAT STUDENTS NEED A MINIMUM OF 1 WEEK NOTICE.

Fill out the form below to request support from UBC med students:

https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IKERcjK4wG8gbc

Yes. You only need to request the amount of vaccine that you realistically expect to use this year.
Vaccine not used in your office is not available to other locations. We really appreciate you taking a realistic assessment of vaccine utilization in your office and supporting placement of orders accordingly.

VCH Public Health and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) still
recommend a 15-minute post-injection observation period.

A shorter observation period between 5-15 minutes may be considered if the conditions below are met:
• Client has received influenza vaccine before and did not have a severe reaction;
• No history of immediate post-vaccination reactions following any vaccines (e.g., syncope);
• There’s another adult who can monitor the vaccine recipient for 15 minutes;
• The vaccine recipient is not operating a motorized or another wheeled transportation device for a min of 15 minutes (so they can wait in the parking lot for the total 15 minutes);
• The vaccine recipient/responsible adult knows when to seek post vaccination advice/medical assistance;
• The client agrees to wait in the post-vaccination waiting area for the reduced observation period

As in prior years, the recommendation is to not defer and use the best option you have on hand to vaccinate patients rather than waiting until other types are available.

The initial proportions will be based on your 2022 usage.

This process remains the same as prior years. You can email (preferred) or fax your local CHC that normally supplies your biologicals. The CHC will contact your clinic by email once the order is filled. VCH is targeting to have your order ready for pickup within 1-2 business days. If you want your re-orders delivered via MTS courier, please cc vaccine@mtslogistics.com.

Your patients can find appointments using the BC flu on the Immunize BC website.

Yes. According to VCH, BCCH will operate its immunization clinic.

Yes, as in previous years, unused vaccines will need to be returned to VCH. In April 2024, the Vancouver Division will offer via MTS complimentary pick up of unused vaccines. You will receive email communication about this year’s returns program.