This is the second year Nova Scotia pharmacies are offering free flu shots and some pharmacists say they have seen their numbers double this season.

“On our clinic day, we had an extra pharmacist in here with us just literally giving flu shots every five to 10 minutes,” says Sarah Opie, a pharmacist in Timberlea, N.S. “I think we did over 50 flu shots on our first flu clinic day.”

While the rush is over, Opie says people are stilling coming into her pharmacy every day, looking for flu shots.

“We’re noticing that our numbers are at least double, maybe even tripled compared to last year,” she says.

When pharmacies first started offering flu shots last year, the Nova Scotia government anticipated about 20,000 people would want to be vaccinated.

However, roughly 74,000 people stopped at their local pharmacy for the flu shot last year, and many pharmacies had a hard time keeping up with the demand.

Opie says that hasn’t been an issue this season, as the province has made it easier for pharmacists to get their supply by allowing them to place their order directly with Public Health, based on numbers they saw last year.

Family physician Dr. Mike Fleming says his office has been busy too. He believes that’s due to increased awareness about the flu vaccine, and easier access in both doctors’ offices and pharmacies.

“If it’s more convenient for patients to get the shots at the pharmacies, a number of my colleagues are encouraging them to get them, just to let us know, so that we have it on their record,” says Fleming.

The province ordered 470,000 doses of the vaccine to prepare for this flu season, which is 25,000 more doses than last year.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster