Flu Season Hits New Canaan, and Shots Scarce

Those is New Canaan who have delayed rolling up their sleeves and receiving a flu shot may have to wait a bit longer—local pharmacies have run dry of vaccines.

"We ran out last Friday," said Kim Fernandez, the manager of the CVS on Park Street. "We're expecting a shipment later this week, but can't say exactly when."

Fernandez said the pharmacy has seen a stunning uptick in flu cases compared to last season. Still, the store's shelves are stocked with the necessary items to combat the flu once it's settled in: decongestants, fever medicine and Advil.

Just a few blocks away, at Varnums Pharmacy on Main Street, pharmacist Shital Shah says it's more of the same.

"We're selling more flu medicine than usual," she said. Varnums does not stock flu shots, but their shelves are lined with all the familiar remedies.

"We've been busy since December," Shah added.

The Walgreens in New Canaan was out of flu shots Monday afternoon, employees told Patch.

Officials in New York have declared a health emergency as a result of the flu's spread, but Connecticut politicos have yet to follow suit. About 36,000 people die in the United States as a result of the flu, according to officials.