Demand for flu and COVID shots increases across Mid-South

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — School nurses, doctor’s offices and hospitals are all bursting at the seams with flu, RSV and COVID patients.

Pharmacies are also busy and working hard to keep up with the demand for vaccinations and medication.

Big name companies like Walgreens and CVS are requiring appointments for a flu shot.

High demand for the shots means availability can fill up fast.

Germantown Pharmacy on Exeter Road is taking walk-ins.

Tammy Folk, the pharmacy’s owner, said more people than ever are coming in to get their flu shot.

“Several thousand just in the past 90 days. So in a day, it would be hard to say but it has been, I would say, record-breaking,” she said.

Folk said that she and her staff are working overtime to get shots into arms and flu medication to sick patients.

“The demand is high, so all pharmacies, big box and small, are having some issues,” she said. “But I think we work together. It is all about keeping people healthy.”

While Folk said that her pharmacy hasn’t run into any shortages of the vaccine, some patients say getting the antivirals to treat the flu hasn’t been easy.

“One of my children, out of state, came down with the flu three weeks ago and it took all my efforts for probably 24 hours to get a dose for her,” Dr. Steve Threlkeld, an infectious disease specialist at Baptist Memorial Hospital, said.

Dr. Threlkeld said that this is the most cases of the flu seen at this point in the season since the pandemic of H1N1 in 2009.

“Unfortunately, that does lead sometimes to some shortages,” he said.

As pharmacists and doctors prepare for a potentially unprecedented flu season, Folk said she is proud of the community for doing what they can to protect themselves.

“I think we need to be proud of the community. Everybody is getting vaccinated, and your benefits definitely outweigh the risk,” she said.

If you are having trouble finding a vaccine or the antivirals used to treat the flu, Dr. Threlkeld said that you should reach out to your doctor.

They should have an idea of where to go and where you can find the medication.

There is also medfinder.org, where you can search for the medication you are looking for and it will tell you which pharmacies have it in stock.