Pulblic flu clinics are scheduled to get underway next week in Kamloops and the Okanagan, but more and more people are turning to their pharmacist to get the annual shot.

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The influenza season is upon us and Interior Health is advising one of the best ways to protect yourself is to get the flu shot.

B.C. Centre for Disease Control communications officer Heather Amos says things are changing with respect to how Kamloops and Okanagan residents get their flu shots.

Amos says flu immunization by public health officials has been on the decline since pharmacists began providing the vaccine.

Long term care facilities, hospitals, physicians and pharmacies get the initial supplies of vaccine, followed by public health clinics.

This year's flu clinics are scheduled to begin next week and will continue in Kamloops and the Okanagan through November.

Publicly-funded vaccines are available through the health units and community health centres, doctors and pharmacies. The vaccine is free for those at high risk of serious illness from influenza such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with certain medical conditions, according to ImmunizeBC. People who could transmit the virus to those at high risk and people in essential community services also qualify for a free shot.

For a list of those eligible for the free flu shot go here.

Interior Health provides a location map on its website of local flu clinics, including the following locations:

• Kamloops Health Centre, 519 Columbia St., Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Chase Health Centre, 825 Thompson Ave.
• Salmon Arm Health Centre, 851 16th St. NE
• Sicamous Health Centre, 1133 Highway 97A
• Enderby Community Health Centre, 707 3rd Ave.
• Armstrong Pleasant Valley Health Centre, 3800 Patten Dr.
• Vernon Health Unit, 1440 14th Ave. Vernon
• Kelowna Community Health and Services Centre, 505 Doyle Ave., Monday to Friday and holidays, 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Rutland Health Centre, 155 Gray Rd., Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every second Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• West Kelowna Health Centre, 160, 2300 Carrington Rd., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Summerland Health Centre, 12815 Atkinson Rd.
• Penticton Health Centre, 740 Carmi Ave.
• Oliver Health Centre, 930 Spillway Rd.
• Osoyoos Health Centre, 4816 89th St.
• Keremeos Health Centre, 700 3rd St.

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