Swine flu clinics across the city are shutting down for the holiday season as the urgency over the illness appears to subside.
While the massive line-ups that popped up at city facilities six weeks ago have thinned out, there was still a steady stream of patients Sunday at the Scarborough Civic Centre.
The East York Civic Centre was also steady throughout the day, with patients like Borhan Patwary lining up for a shot before the clinic shut down.
"I was here two weeks ago ... and the line was so big I couldn't come in," said Patwary. "So I came back here on the last day and thought, 'Why not do it?'"
Officials also want to remind people that the shot takes about two weeks to kick in, meaning that patients need to get the shot now if they want to protect themselves over the holidays.
Patient Darren Black had similar concerns on Sunday.
"I'm very concerned ... certainly flu in the Christmas season, where we're socializing, tends to be worse. So I just want any protection that's offered."
According to Bernadette Kint, the Scarborough clinic manager, city workers who have been offering the shots need to get back to their regular jobs.
She said many workers will return to "running parenting programs, helping new moms with breast feeding, going out there and teaching people with chronic diseases."
Still, public health officials are still urging people to get the vaccination, which will still be widely available at clinics and doctors' offices in the New Year.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Janice Golding
