THUNDER BAY -- The flu shot season started late and slow but as health unit clinics wrap up, others are hitting their stride.
It's not yet clear how many people have taken advantage of flu shots or how effective this year's immunization is versus this year's particular strain of influenza.
"We may have started a little bit slower this year just because of the warmer temperatures," said health unit infectious disease program manager Diana Gowanlock. "It kind of makes people not think, 'oh, flu season's coming.'"
The health unit will host its last clinic of the season on Thursday at the MacGregor Community Centre on Lakeshore Drive. The Gowanlock said as the health unit decreases the number of clinics it offers, it has been focusing on rural areas where there are high numbers of children.
"Those areas might not have access to a pharmacy," she said.
"We've always gone ot those areas anyway but when we decreased our amount of flu clinics, we kind of did a focus on different areas we could go to and we decided to keep those ones. A lot of those people do come to town, mind you, but some of them can't or don't get out as much."
After Thursday, Superior North EMS will be holding clinics on Dec. 16 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. but most of the flu shots for the rest of the season will be made available through pharmacies.
Pharmacies began offering flu shots in 2012 and we're now Gowanlock said every pharmacy in the city is now on board. The health unit intends to release an online map on Friday that will direct residents to their closest pharmacy.
"It's really accessible and easy for people to go to their local pharmacy if they're there anyway they can get a flu shot or if you're at a grocery store that has a pharmacy and you're getting groceries, you can put your name down to get a flu shot and get that while you're shopping."
