A special H1N1 flu clinic has been set up at Winnipeg's Children's Hospital after a spike in the number of kids turning up at the ER. (Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

An unusually high number of children suffering from flu-like symptoms have been turning up at the emergency department at Winnipeg's Children's Hospital, prompting local health officials to announce a special clinic to help ease demand.

Starting Thursday evening, a clinic staffed with nurses and a pediatrician will be set up in a separate area of the hospital, located at CE501-840 Sherbrook St., the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) said Wednesday.

Patients are still asked to register in the emergency department. If it's deemed appropriate, the WRHA said patients will be escorted by volunteers to the clinic.

The WRHA said the clinic is needed because over the last two weeks, between 160 and 190 patients a day have been showing up at the hospital's emergency department. More than half have been suffering from influenza like illnesses, according to the WRHA.

Normally, the ER would see between 110 and 120 patients a day.

The clinic's hours of operation will be:

• Thursday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Every person attending the emergency department will be provided with a mask to protect themselves and others from potential infection, the WRHA said. People are being asked to refrain from visiting the ward unnecessarily.

Kids aged 6 months to 17 now on priority list

Winnipeg's 12 swine flu vaccination clinics will reopen at 9:30 a.m. Thursday after being closed for two days.

The WRHA said provincial health officials have expanded the priority list to include children over six months and under 18 years of age. It's the first expansion of the priority list since H1N1 vaccinations began in late October.

The new priority list includes the following:

• Children six months to age 17.
• Anyone of Aboriginal ancestry (First Nations, Métis or Inuit).
• Disadvantaged individuals (for example, the homeless).
• People living in remote or isolated areas.
• People under 65 with a chronic medical condition or other risk including obesity, substance abuse or alcoholism.
• Anyone with a weakened immune system or those who live with or care for them.
• Those who live with or care for infants under six months old.
• Single parents or anyone solely responsible for a dependent.
• Health-care workers and medical first-responders.
• Pregnant women.

A total of 101,281 people have been vaccinated at Winnipeg clinics so far, the WRHA said.

The locations of the Winnipeg clinics are listed on the map below. Clinics outside the city can be found by visiting Manitoba Health's H1N1 website by clicking the link on the top right of this story.