Some Edmonton flu clinics to remain partially open over holidays

EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services will be offering several opportunities for Edmontonians to get a flu shot this holiday season, despite initially saying its immunization clinics will be closed during this period.

“The reason why we want to run more clinics is that we know when the kids get back to school, that’s when the flu tends to take off. So we want to give people this opportunity before everybody gets back to school and work to get themselves immunized,” said Dr. Gerry Predy, Medical Officer of Health.

Predy says in Edmonton there have been more than 120 cases of lab-confirmed influenza.

“The influenza that is causing the majority of illness in the Edmonton zone and across Alberta is an H1N1 variant. It’s the same H1N1 that’s been circulating since 2009,” said Dr. Chris Sikora, Medical Officer of Health for the Edmonton zone last week.

According to Predy, roughly 100 Edmontonians have been hospitalized with H1N1 this season, with a number of them ending up in intensive care. Predy says that the illness seems to be hitting young people harder, including those in their 30s and 40s.

READ MORE: Flu outbreak at Misericordia hospital

Anyone over the age of six months in Alberta is able to get a free flu shot.

You can get one at one of the following three locations:

Bonnie Doon Health Centre, 8314 88 Avenue
Friday, December 27, 2013 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday, January 3, 2014 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Northgate Health Centre, 9499 137 Avenue
Friday, December 27, 2013 9 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m.
Monday, December 30, 2013 9 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m.
Friday, January 3, 2014 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

West Jasper Place Health Centre, 9720 182 Street
Monday, December 30, 2013 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Regular hours will resume on Jan. 6.