Vaccine will still be available to residents

Ottawa – All Ottawa Public Health (OPH) fixed mass vaccination clinic sites will close at the end of day Saturday, December 12.

"The mass vaccination clinics have been successful in their intended purpose of quickly vaccinating as many residents as possible but demand has been decreasing," said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health. "These clinics are an efficient and convenient way to get vaccinated with both the H1N1 and, now, seasonal flu vaccines. Residents who want to get the best protection from the flu are encouraged to come out this week to get the vaccine while a full-complement of clinics is available."

All OPH vaccination clinics will be closed this Sunday.

Starting next week, OPH will operate reduced numbers of vaccine clinics to provide residents continued access to both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines in the coming weeks and months. The first schedule of these clinics will be announced later this week.

OPH continues to recommend that all residents get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones from the flu.

"As of this past weekend, we have distributed over 400,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine into our community, enough vaccine for 47 per cent of the population," said Levy. "In addition to OPH clinics, both vaccines continue to be available in many local doctors’ offices, community health care centres, workplaces, and post-secondary campuses over the next few weeks."

Even though the second wave of the virus has passed in Ottawa, Ottawa Public Health and its community partners will continue managing the pandemic and vaccination strategy, as the H1N1 virus will remain in the community in the foreseeable future.

For more information, visit ottawa.ca/health or contact the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744.