Studying During FluVax Season🤯

Let me paint a picture for you.

It’s Monday morning.

You’ve barely had a sip of your coffee, and the pharmacy doors swing open.

First patient of the day?

A walk-in asking, “Do you do the free flu shot?”

You smile, nod, and start explaining the eligibility criteria, but before you can finish, your pharmacist hands you a pile of scripts to hand out.

The phone rings—someone else asking if they can book a flu shot for their entire family.

Meanwhile, in the back of your mind, you’re panicking about your upcoming exam because, let’s be honest, when was the last time you actually sat down to study?

FluVax season and studying at the same time? It feels like running a marathon while juggling fire.

But I’ve seen interns and pharmacists not just survive this chaos—but absolutely crush it.

Here’s how one intern did it:

Meet Sam.

Sam was gearing up for their final exams when their pharmacy manager announced, “You’re helping run our flu clinic this year!” 

Cue the internal screaming.

At first, Sam did what most people would—panicked, complained, and considered running away to a remote island where flu shots and exam deadlines don’t exist.

But then, they got smart.

1️⃣ They turned work into study time. Every FluVax consult became a chance to practice patient communication, reinforce contraindications, and sharpen clinical knowledge. They weren’t just giving vaccines—they were revising in real time.

2️⃣ They blocked out study time like a work shift. Instead of squeezing in random study sessions between shifts (which never actually happened), they scheduled study blocks like appointments. If it was on the calendar, it was non-negotiable.

3️⃣ They used their team. Instead of struggling alone, Sam leaned on the pharmacists for quick case discussions and even got their manager to quiz them on key topics between vaccinations. It turned out the team wanted to help—they just needed to be asked.

4️⃣ They let go of perfection. Some days, study barely happened. Other days, they powered through a full topic. The trick? They didn’t let bad days throw them off course. Progress over perfection.

By the time exams rolled around, Sam wasn’t just prepared—they felt confident.

And guess what?

The flu clinic was a success too.

So, what’s the takeaway?

FluVax season doesn’t have to derail your study.

In fact, it can make you a sharper, more adaptable pharmacist.

The key is to work with the chaos, not against it.

If you’re in the middle of it right now—hang in there.

You’re learning more than you realise.

And if all else fails, remember: flu season ends, but your skills stay with you forever.

Would love to hear how you’re handling the madness.

Reply and let me know!

Cheers,
Gus
PharmacyDownUnder

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