Provincial flu vaccine could run out in Alberta by week's end

The Alberta government has been able to get another 65,000 doses of flu vaccine that will be distributed through vaccination clinics operated by Alberta Health Services, but the supply is expected to run out by the end of the week.

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After looking at the existing supply, a group of experts decided that any vaccines still at pharmacies and doctors`offices will stay there.

But they will not be given any doses from the latest shipment, which was the last on the planet, according to Health Minister Fred Horne.

Nearly one million people have received their flu shots this year with 150,000 getting them over the past week.One-third of the vaccinations were given in pharmacies.

Alberta Health Services is now gathering information about where vaccines can be found.

"We'll use theAHSwebsite to try to direct people to a pharmacy or physician office where vaccine may be available," Horne said. He doesn't believe there isn't much supply left in pharmacies.

The province is opening a flu care clinic at the former Woodcroft Health Centre at 13221 115th Avenue in Edmonton. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, and is a place where people with flu symptoms can get medical attention.

Details are forthcoming about asimilar clinic opening soon in Calgary.

As of Jan. 7, there were 1,430 confirmed flu cases, with 1,287 of the H1N1 strain. There are 354 people in hospital, with 83 in the intensive care unit.