A decline in demand at Alberta walk-in clinics, including this one at Edmonton's Commonweath Stadium, is prompting the province to close the program. (Niall McKenna/CBC)Alberta's drop-in vaccination clinics for H1N1 will all close before Christmas, the province announced Friday.

The number of people getting vaccinated at the clinics has dropped off significantly in recent weeks.

"Some of it could be related to the weather, some of it could be related to the fact that people are preparing for the holidays, some could be related to the fact that people don't see it as an urgent issue because the disease activity has subsided," said Dr. Gerry Predy, senior medical health officer with Alberta Health Services.

But Perdy said the more than two million Albertans who have not been vaccinated should take advantage of the absence of lineups at the clinics, he said.

64 deaths related to H1N1

"Once we get in the height of another wave or another part of the outbreak, it's a little late to get vaccinated," he said. Provincial officials have been predicting a third wave of the influenza pandemic could strike in February or March.

While the number of people being admitted to hospital with H1N1 has gone down considerably, the number of deaths continues to rise, with the total now at 64.

"We've seen two more deaths," Perdy said. "An adult male from the north and an adult female from the Calgary area are the most recent deaths."

The vaccine has been sent to about 500 doctors who ordered it, as well as to about 250 pharmacies, which should have the product by Monday, Predy said.

Clinic closing schedule

Two clinics in Calgary, at the Richmond Road Diagnostic Treatment Centre and the South Calgary Health Centre, closed Friday afternoon.

The Commonweath Stadium and Rutherford Health Centre clinics in Edmonton will close Saturday at 4 p.m.

The other Calgary clinics have closing dates and times as follows:

• Stampede Grounds, closing 7 p.m., Dec. 17
• Avenida Village, 7 p.m., Dec. 23
• Brentwood Village, 7 p.m., Dec. 23
• EMS Whitehorn, 7 p.m., Dec. 23

For Edmonton and area, closing dates and times are as follows:

• Strathcona Health Centre in Sherwood Park, close 8 p.m., Dec. 16
• Grandin Park Plaza in St. Albert, 8 p.m., Dec. 16
• Northgate Centre, 4 p.m., Dec. 19
• Westmount Mall, 8 p.m. Dec. 23
• Millbourne Mall, 8 p.m., Dec. 23

A full list of walk-in vaccination clinics across the province is available at the Alberta Health Services website