Flu shots offered at bar in Dawson City, Yukon

A bar in Dawson City, Yukon, was offering free shots this week — flu shots, that is.

Nurses were providing flu shots Wednesday in the Westminster Hotel's bar, which is also known locally as The Pit.

Heidi Bliedung, the hotel's general manager, says the hotel used to have more monthly residents. The town's hospital called and asked how many people there might be interested in getting the flu shot and suggested setting up downstairs for an hour.

"I think they were under the impression that there might be people living here that wouldn't necessarily go down to the hospital to get a flu shot so they wanted to offer it to people and make it more accessible," she said.

"I guess their idea is that they want to come to people rather than people having to come to them."

Flu shots were available at the bar from 4 to 5 p.m. Bliedung said "they didn't get much action," because it was last minute and not advertised very much.

She says she's waiting to hear back from the hospital about the possibility of another clinic next week.

"The Westminster Hotel tends to be a hub," she said. "I think the idea is to come back over happy hour."

A flu shot clinic is being held in Whitehorse at the Canada Games Centre on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In Yellowknife, the next flu shot clinic is at the Yellowknife Primary Care Centre on 48th Street on Tuesday from 1 to 6 p.m. Flu shots are also available through your local health centre.