HIV-positive Calgary Man Denied Flu Shot

An HIV positive man turned away from a flu shot might be an opportunity for awareness, says AIDS Calgary.

Simonne LeBlanc, executive director for AIDS Calgary, said the man went to her people for guidance, explaining a pharmacist wouldn't give him the flu shot Wednesday after being made aware he was HIV positive.

But LeBlanc said there's really no reason he couldn't have been taken care of right there at the pharmacy.

"There's still nurses, there's still dentists and there's still doctors who just don't have enough exposure to it or understanding of it," she said. "I think that's what it is most often."

"For people that are living with it, there is a lot of stigma associated with it."

The man felt discriminated against, LeBlanc said. "This might be a teaching moment" for the pharmacy and others, she said.

A spokesperson for pharmacy has reportedly apologized to the man, calling it an isolated incident that will be addressed through training.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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