Peggy Revell
There’s been a big turnout for the Northwestern Health Unit’s public ’flu shot clinics so far.
Of the three walk-in clinics held by the health unit in Fort Frances, more than 300 people attended the one at Robert Moore School while close to 300 were at the one at St. Francis, said public health nurse Myrna Kraynyk-Cooper.
The last walk-in clinic here was held yesterday at the Memorial Sports Arena. Others took place at Donald Young School (Emo), Mine Centre School, the Nestor Falls rec centre, and Crossroads School (Devlin) earlier this month.
“The clinics are running above average for numbers,” noted Kraynyk-Cooper. “But we are running less clinics this year so in terms of overall average, it’s going very normal.”
The number of people attending the first walk-in clinic was more than they expected and so they had less staff on hand, she explained, resulting in some people having to wait up to an hour-and-a-half for their ’flu shot.
She noted there’s no way to know what the turnout will be, but added more staff were brought in for the second clinic at St. Francis, which reduced the wait time to around 10-20 minutes.
“This is definitely good,” said Kraynyk-Cooper. “We’re having a good response and good turnout.
“Despite the weather and the rain, and whatever is going on, people are coming out.”
For those who missed out on the walk-in clinics, ’flu shot appointments can be made at the health unit’s office on Scott Street or the one in Emo.
“They’re booked up until the end of November at this point,” Kraynyk-Cooper noted. “[But] people can call for appointments still. We can continue to give them all winter.”
For more information, including to make an appointment, contact the health unit at 274-9827.
In related news, the local clinic is holding the second of its two ’flu shot programs tomorrow (Nov. 20) from 9:30 a.m.-noon.
Call 274-3287 to book an appointment (people also are reminded to wear a short-sleeved shirt).
