A pharmacist has dispelled myths being perpetuated online that pharmacists give out-of-date flu vaccines.
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Albury Pharmacist Leah Davidson, based on the NSW-Victorian border, said she'd seen people spreading misinformation on Facebook about the flu vaccination.
"I've seen a few things online that pharmacists are giving old stock," she said.
"But ethically, we wouldn't do that, we would always give the most up-to-date shot."
Ms Davidson said at the beginning of the flu season some customers would ask if they could check to see if the vaccine bottle was in date, but she said doing that was "completely unnecessary" and insulting.
"It's sort of a defamation of our profession," she said.
She said the posts came from people who were either uneducated or conspiracy theorists, but they still hurt.
"We should be a trusted professional," Ms Davidson said.
"We try to do what's best for the community and try to help people.
"It's just what we do, so we wouldn't do something that's not going to help people."
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Despite this, Ms Davidson said there had been good uptake for the flu vaccine this year, with bookings for the jab at similar levels to last year.
"We've been just as busy this year," she said.
"It's been really good, we've been doing a lot of trades [people] and a lot of people trying to get into nursing homes as well."
Ms Davidson said the rates of vaccination for this year and last year were higher than 2019.
"Last year I think we did about 2500, the year before I think it was 1500," she said.
"It jumped up a lot in that 12 months."
Ms Davidson believes the rules about mandatory flu vaccinations for anyone entering residential aged care had prompted a lot of people to get the shot, but there was also greater awareness about protecting community health since the pandemic.
She said some people received the vaccine for the first time in a while last year and were reminded how useful and effective it was.
"They've found that since getting their flu shots they're not getting their colds as often," Ms Davidson said.
"Ten years ago people used to say that they got lots of side effects...but it's a lot better now.
"People have gotten less side effects from the newer flu vaccine."
This weekend Terry White Pharmacy in Albury will have a nurse on site to vaccinate children aged two to nine, as pharmacists can only vaccinate those aged 10 and above.
Albury Wodonga Health has reminded people they must wait two weeks between receiving the COVID-19 vaccination and the flu vaccination.