CARLSBORG — Royal Tours owner-president Kevin Harris thought his “Flu Shot Tour” to Victoria would run out, like the flu vaccine his passengers are seeking.
Four days tops, the Port Townsend businessman thought the attraction would last.
Two weeks later, the Carlsborg-based transportation and tour company is still carrying passengers on a flu vaccination tour across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
On Thursday, a Royal Tours bus took 12 more people to the Victoria Compounding Pharmacy on Fort Street, then on to tour the sights of the British Columbia capital.
Thursday’s run via the MV Coho ferry out of Port Angeles brought the total number of people who have taken the Flu Shot Tour to nearly 100.
Some of them came from as far away as Olympia and Portland, Ore., said Harris.
‘At risk’ people
To make sure that “at risk” people — those 65 years or older, children 23 months or younger, and others with serious or life-threatening ailments get their flu vaccinations — Harris’ company is offering a half-fare rate on the flu shot excursion to Victoria until Nov. 15.
“We just want to make sure that those people get help,” Harris said Thursday.
“We have had tremendous interest from seniors and others in the high-risk category since we started the flu shot shuttle,” he said.
“We want to do our part to help ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, those who need the vaccine aren’t prevented from getting it due to lack of transportation or cost.”
Harris started the Flu Shot Tour in mid-October after it was clear that Washington state and the United States would be hit hard by a flu vaccine shortage.
That shortage occurred when a California-based company lost its license to produce the vaccine, leaving the nation with 54 million doses, about half of what is needed.
The Victoria Clipper out of Seattle offered high-speed — and highly publicized — ferry shuttles to Victoria for flu shots.
But those specially priced ferry runs were discontinued after only five days, purportedly because the Clipper’s Canadian supplier ran low on vaccine.
North Peninsula pickups
Harris’ Royal Tours Flu Shot Tour leaves from several locations on the North Olympic Peninsula, including Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, and Port Ludlow in Jefferson County; and Port Angeles, Sequim and neighboring communities in Clallam County.
There are numerous weekly runs scheduled, including some Saturday trips, said Harris.
Standard fare is $95, which includes bus transportation, round trip on the MV Coho, and the Victoria tour.
The flu shot at Victoria Compounding Pharmacy is an additional $15 U.S., paid at the Canada certified clinic.
Harris said until Nov. 15, up to 30 percent of all flu shot shuttles will be reserved for “at risk” individuals for $42.50, plus $15 for the flu shot.
Door-to-door pickup and drop-off service is also available — on a limited space-available basis — for Peninsula residents whose physical condition limits their ability to travel to the group pickup locations, Harris said.
Harris also owns Pennco Transportation, the shuttle service best known for door-to-door service from the Peninsula to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
He has introduced connecting transportation from Sea-Tac area hotels to the Flu Shot Tour in Victoria.
Information is available by calling Royal Tours toll-free at 888-381-1800 or 888-673-6626. The Port Angeles-Sequim local number is 360-417-8006.
Additional information can be found at www.royaltours.ca or www.penncoshuttle.com.