UPDATE: City offers free flu vaccinations

Starting Monday, Oct. 26, OPH will focus on providing vaccines to health care workers, pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems, anyone between six months and 65 years of age with chronic medical conditions, healthy children from six months to five years old and household contacts and care providers of infants younger than six months.

With a limited supply coming from the province this week, those groups will be priority for the first seven to 14 days of operation, according to city information. A non-adjuvanted version of the H1N1 vaccine available to women is also expected by mid-November. Five fixed sites – in addition to several temporary and roving locations – to administer the vaccinations have been slated for Orléans, Kanata, Vanier, Nepean and downtown. “These groups are the most vulnerable to complications associated with the H1N1 flu virus or are the most in need of having access to the vaccine as soon as it is available,” said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s medical officer of health, in a press release on Wednesday, Oct. 21. “After this initial period of focus and as more supply is delivered by the province, all Ottawa residents who need or want the H1N1 vaccine will be able to get it.”

The city estimates that up to 40 per cent of residents will seek out the H1N1 vaccination this year. “The H1N1 vaccine has been approved and it is safe,” Levy added. “It is the best way to protect you and your family from the flu.” For more information, please visit www.ottawa.ca/health or contact the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744.

FIXED VACCINATION SITES: - Orléans Client Service Centre

255 Centrum, Orléans

Monday to Friday: 2:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - City of Ottawa – Administrative Building

100 Constellation, Nepean

Monday to Friday: 5 - 9 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Kanata Recreation Complex

100 Walter Baker, Kanata

Monday to Friday: 2:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Tom Brown Arena

141 Bayview, Ottawa

Monday to Friday: 2:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Vanier Richelieu Community Centre

300 Des Pères Blancs, Vanier

Monday to Friday: 2:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

ROVING VACCINATION SITES: - West Carleton Community Complex

5670 Carp Rd., Kinburn

Nov. 3 and Nov. 25 - 2:30 to 8:30 pm - Alfred Taylor Community Centre

2300 Community Way, North Gower

Nov. 1: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Nov. 26: 2:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Osgoode Community Centre

56 Main St., Osgoode

Oct. 30: 2:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Nov. 23: 2:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Place Sarsfield

2835 Colonial Rd., Sarsfield

Nov. 2: 2:30 - 8:30 p.m. - R.J. Kennedy Community Centre

1115 Dunning Rd., Cumberland

Nov. 14: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SENIORS 65+ RURAL FLU CLINICS: - South Carleton High School

3673 McBean Rd., Richmond

Nov. 2: 2:30 to 8:30 pm - Osgoode Township High School

2800 8th Line Rd., Metcalfe

Nov. 4: 2:30 to 8:30 pm - West Carleton Community Complex

5670 Carp Rd., Kinburn

Nov. 5: 2:30 to 8:30 pm - Heritage Public School

1375 Colonial Rd., Navan

Nov. 12: 3:30 to 8:30 pm