Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Pharmacists in Western New York are seeing less people getting flu shots, which raises concerns about whether lingering stigma or "vaccine fatigue" from COVID-19 may be contributing factors.
Owner of Brighton-Eggert Pharmacy and Black Rock Pharmacy, Don Arthur, says the amount of people getting flu shots peaked before COVID hit.
"We've been providing flu vaccines in the community for about 15 years now, and we did see a steady rise of people responsibly getting vaccinated for the flu prior to COVID. Then those first couple years of COVID, we saw a spike in those interested in getting vaccinated for both flu and COVID, but unfortunately, five years after after COVID, we're seeing a decrease in patients receiving flu shots in our community," stated Arthur in an interview with WBEN.
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Arthur believes the decline is largely due to the negative connotation people have with getting vaccines now.
"That's concerning to us because we feel, as healthcare providers, that vaccinating against flu and COVID in the community helps, not only, protect the individual that's vaccinated, but it also helps those immune compromised and elderly. We've unfortunately seen, although not common fortunately, we've seen cases of COVID," he shared.
Arthur says it's important to stay up to date on vaccines because they serve a duel purpose.
"When we're not vaccinated, if we do happen to come in contact with flu or COVID, our symptoms can be a bit more severe, and our probability of passing that on and affecting people who are immune compromised and elderly go up so, if we vaccinate, it just gives us the tools. It gives us the boost in our immune system to fight both COVID and flu quicker, hopefully keeping our viral loads down lower and our chances of spreading it to those that it can be more harmful to," he said.