Clinics to deliver inoculations against the H1N1 influenza virus as well as the regular seasonal flu are scheduled to begin in the North Thompson this week.

On Tuesday a clinic will be held at the Barriere and District Senior Society drop-in center from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Another clinic will be held at the Blue River Red Cross Outpost from 1:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Clearwater's first H1N1 clinic will be on Wednesday at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The following high-risk groups will receive their vaccinations first:

• Pregnant women in the second half of pregnancy

• Persons under age 65 with chronic conditions

• Children six - 59 months of age

• Household contacts and care providers of infants under six months of age

• Household contacts and care providers of persons who are immuno-compromised

• Persons residing in rural and remote communities; including the Aboriginal population

• Health care workers involved in responding to pandemic influenza.

Once these groups have had the opportunity to receive their vaccinations, anyone who needs or wants an H1N1 vaccination will be able to get one.

Starting this week, seasonal flu vaccine is available to anyone who has been eligible in past years, not just those over 65 years. This list includes:

• People 65 years and older and their caregivers/household contacts

• Children and adults with chronic health conditions and their household contacts

• Children and adolescents (six months to 18 years) with conditions treated for long periods of time with acetylsalicylic acid and their household contacts

• Healthy children age six-23 months

• Household contacts and caregivers of infants age 0-23 months

• Pregnant women who will be in their third trimester during influenza season and their household contacts

• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities

• Health care and other care providers in facilities and community settings who are capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk of influenza complications

• People who work with live poultry and/or swine.

If you are eligible for both, you will be able to receive both where offered at the same clinics.

Both H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines are also available from many physicians and walk-in clinics, and in the coming weeks from some pharmacies.

For more information, go online to interiorhealth.ca, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, phone your local public-health centre or talk to your family physician.

Clinic dates, times and locations will be updated every Wednesday (for the following week) at: www.interiorhealth.ca/2009FluClinics.aspx.