Calgary influenza clinics reopened on Tuesday morning and once again Calgarians lined up to get immunized.
Alberta Health officials say nine people have died in the province from the flu and many more have been hospitalized with at least a thousand confirmed cases.
Two clinics are open in the city at Brentwood Village Mall and the South Calgary Health Centre.
Sara Metcalfe arrived at the clinic at Brentwood Mall at 9:30 a.m. and says the line was not too bad but it had increased dramatically by the time she came out.
“Now what they are doing in there is they’ve got three sets of lineups going down this corridor and they’re trying to funnel them all into one tiny lineup to go in, but once you get in, it’s very quick,” said Metcalfe
Those who were in line at the Brentwood location on Monday estimate they waited between one and two hours to get inside.
Most are a little frustrated with the wait but say they don’t want to risk getting sick.
“We just didn’t want to take any chances especially with the little ones,” said Roxane.
“The flu has already circulated a little bit in our house and so we’re here getting immunized against other potential flus that are still to come,” said Brent Dunbar.
The shots are free and are also offered at doctor’s offices and pharmacies but many of them have run out of supply so people are encouraged to call ahead to make sure it is available.
The Calgary clinics are open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on various days.
Click HERE for immunization clinic locations and schedules in Alberta.
Influenza immunization and case statistics as of January 6, 2014
|
Alberta totals |
North Zone |
Edmonton Zone |
Central Zone |
Calgary Zone |
Southern Zone |
Immunizations |
TBA |
|
|
|
|
|
Confirmed cases |
1335 |
136 |
503 |
190 |
437 |
69 |
– H1N1 |
1189 |
112 |
455 |
165 |
397 |
60 |
– H3N2 |
14 |
0 |
9 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
– Not typed |
132 |
24 |
39 |
23 |
37 |
9 |
Deaths* |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Hospitalized* |
288 |
19 |
49 |
24 |
185 |
11 |
ICU * |
70 |
|
|
|
|
|
* Only for H1N1/not typed