Clinics and pharmacies offering flu shots were busy on day one; a noticeable contrast to last year when flu clinics were initially slow.

When the demand for flu shots did pick up last year, the province ended up running out of vaccine.

This year, there's enough vaccine for almost half of the population in Alberta.

Alberta Health Services is encouraging Albertans six months of age and older to protect themselves against the influenza virus.

“Influenza arrives every year. The good news is, influenza vaccines get here first,” says Dr. Judy MacDonald, Medical Officer of Health for the Calgary Zone. “This year, we strongly encourage Albertans to take advantage and get immunized before influenza arrives.”

On Monday, October 20, hundreds of clinics, pharmacies, and doctor’s offices in the province, started offering influenza immunizations at no charge.

The vaccines are available in two forms; injectable (flu shot) and nasal spray (FluMist).

Vaccines are available at pharmacies, doctors' offices and at the following AHS clinics in Calgary and neighbouring communities:

Calgary

  • Brentwood Village Mall - Unit 302, 3630 Brentwood Rd. N.W.
  • Richmond Road Diagnostic Treatment Centre - 1820 Richmond Rd. S.W.
  • Northgate - 495 36 St. N.E.
  • South Calgary Health Centre - 31 Sunpark Plaza S.E.

Airdrie

  • Airdrie Town and Country Hall
  • Genesis Place

Banff

  • Banff Park Lodge
  • Banff Senior’s Centre

Black Diamond/Turner Valley

  • Oilfields General Hospital

Canmore

  • Canmore Public Health Office

Chestermere

  • Whitecappers

Cochrane

  • Cochrane Community Health Centre

High River

  • Highwood Memorial Centre

Okotoks

  • Foothills Centennial Centre

Strathmore

  • Strathmore Civic Centre
  • Strathmore Health Unit

For hours of operation, or to locate a flu immunization clinic in other sections of Alberta, visit Immunization Clinic Schedule.

For additional information about the flu and vaccines, visit AHS Influenza Immunization

A website has also been launched to allow Albertans share their influenza stories. Click HERE for more information on Alberta Flu Champs.