Today marks the start of Alberta Health Services offering free influenza vaccines to all Albertans, six months of age and older.

Immunization clinics were opened across the province this morning, including one in the Harvest Centre of Westerner Park in Red Deer.

Medical Officer of Health for the Central Zone with AHS Dr. Ifeoma Achebe says influenza killed 64 Albertans and hospitalized more than 1,600 over a six month period last year, deaths which are totally avoidable.

“It’s one of the diseases you can prevent by getting the shot, we highly highly recommend that to everyone. Clinics are all over the place, you can go to Alberta Health Services website to get the closest clinic to you and their schedules. We also have them at pharmacies and physician clinics”

Chriss Hopp, along with his young sons Alton and Owen were at Westerner Park in Red Deer to get their shots this morning.

Hopp says with two kids under the age of 5, he prefers a flu shot over the possible alternative.

“It’s just a little trip this morning to prevent potential illness later on, which could last longer than just a morning.”

There will be a free flu shot, drop in clinic tomorrow at the Lacombe Memorial Centre from 1pm until 7pm.

Your next opportunity here in Lacombe won't be until November 28th.

For more information, including local clinic schedules, you can check out ahs.ca/influenza, or call Health Link at 811.

(Chris Hopp, along with his sons Alton and Owen, were some of the first to get their flu shot at Westerner Park this morning)