By Angela Hill

Flu clinics now underway across region

Oct 12, 2010 | 6:04 PM

Flu clinics began in the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, Tuesday morning.
Helen Chernoff and her husband, Walter, were two of those into the clinic first thing.
“I’ve been doing this for years and I think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread,” she said.
She said she doesn’t have any concerns about receiving the vaccine and Walter said his only concern was that they might have to wait in line.
He didn’t have to be worried.
“There was no wait virtually. We filled our papers in and got our shots,” said Millicent White.
After an initial, early rush, the morning continued at a steady pace, said Wanda Atcheson, manager of public health nursing for the region.
“We hope lots of people come in for their influenza shots, so for the next three weeks we hope we have steady line-ups,” she said.
This year’s seasonal flu vaccine contains the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic last year.
“It’s included in the influenza. There are three strains and so we don’t know which will be circulating this year, so we encourage everybody to come,” Atcheson said.
White said she went for her vaccine because she is a health worker.
“I’m at high risk to be in contact with it and besides I don’t want to spread it to my patients or bring it to my family as well,” she said.
The clinics will be held for the next three weeks and schedules can be found online at princealbertparklandhealth.com
ahill@rawlco.com