With the series of free ’flu shot clinics having wrapped up Monday, a public health nurse with the Northwestern Health Unit could not be more pleased with the number of people who showed up.
“We have had a very good turnout,” said Cindy McKinnon. “At the clinic we held at Robert Moore School, we had well over 200 people attend. At St. Michael’s, we had about 100 people.
“So we have certainly had people showing up to receive the shot. We are very pleased,” she added.
Although the final clinic was slated Dec. 4 at Sixth Street School here, it’s possible additional ones will be held depending on the need within the community.
“It depends on the demand by the people,” McKinnon said. “If we find that a lot of people are calling in for the shot, then we will schedule some additional clinics at the health unit.
“Then people can just drop in and receive their shot from us there.”
The health unit also will be holding clinics at its Scott Street office Jan. 4 to administer the second dose of the ’flu shot vaccine to children under the age of nine.
“If you have a child who has never received the ’flu shot in years past and they are under the age of nine, then they must get a second dose of the vaccine within a month of the first dose,” McKinnon explained.
“We will hold the clinic at our health unit so parents can bring in their children for their additional shot.”
Meanwhile, there’s no question in McKinnon’s mind that the free clinics were a great success across the district.
“[The Northwestern Health Unit] always distributes the ’flu vaccine throughout Northwestern Ontario every year,” she said. “In a normal year, we distribute about 17,000. This year alone, we sent out 35, 000.
“I think it has been a great success.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
