Winnipeg closing four more H1N1 clinics
Vaccine sent to doctors' offices
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 1, 2009 | 2:36 PM CT
CBC News
The number of H1N1 vaccination clinics in Winnipeg is being reduced to four as of next Monday. (Marcy Markusa/CBC)Four more of Winnipeg's swine flu vaccination clinics are being shut down as of next Monday, leaving just four of the original 12 still operating.
Provincial health officials also announced Tuesday that the H1N1 vaccine is now being delivered to doctors' offices across Manitoba where patients can get inoculated.
"Getting a flu shot in a doctor's office is a familiar process for many people, and now that we have enough vaccine we're offering this option to physicians and Manitobans," Health Minister Theresa Oswald said.
"We're putting our plan in place and have asked doctors who want to offer the vaccine to place their order. We have already begun repackaging and distributing our most recent vaccine shipment to these clinics."
Manitobans should contact their physician or regional health authority to get up-to-date information on where the flu shot is available, Oswald added.
One-third of Manitobans vaccinated
As of Sunday, more than 357,000 Manitobans had been vaccinated for H1N1, according to provincial health officials. Winnipeg's clinics tallied 215,731 shots as of 11 a.m. Tuesday.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has operated 12 clinics since the mass immunization campaign started Oct. 26. But the number of people showing up at the clinics has dropped significantly.
Whereas 13,000 to 16,000 people were being vaccinated daily during the peak of the campaign, just 881 got the shot Tuesday by midday.
Dr. Joel Kettner, Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer, said Tuesday it is vital for people who have not yet received the shot to get it as soon as possible.
'Too early to get complacent'
"It is too early to get complacent … because we don't yet know what will happen when the weather gets colder and more people travel in and out of Manitoba," he said.
The WRHA clinics are open from 9:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. on most days but from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
The schedule for the clinics is as follows:
- St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (2255 Grant Ave.). Final week.
- Portage Place Shopping Centre (393 Portage Ave.). Final week.
- U of M, Fort Garry Campus (Room 210, 2nd floor University Centre). Final week.
- Holy Eucharist Parish Centre (460 Munroe Ave.). Final week.
- Grant Park Shopping Centre (1120 Grant Ave.). Open next week.
- Indo-Canadian Arts & Cultural Centre (479 St. Mary's Road). Open next week.
- Garden City Shopping Centre (2305 McPhillips St.). Open next week.
- St. Paul the Apostle Parish Centre (2400 Portage Ave.). Open next week, Tuesday through Friday.
The clinics at Grant Park, the Indo-Canadian Arts & Cultural Centre and the Garden City Shopping Centre will be open Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vaccination clinics outside the city are listed on Manitoba Health's H1N1 website, accessible by clicking the link at the top right of this page.
