Here is some key information about getting vaccinated against swine flu (also known as the H1N1 virus) in Toronto and the wider GTA.

The city of Toronto began vaccinations for health-care workers on Monday. Clinics to inoculate the city's seniors against the seasonal flu virus began on Oct. 22 but are now over.

Seniors need immunization against seasonal flu because people's immune systems weaken with age. People born before 1957 are thought to have some natural immunity against the swine flu virus, so they generally don't require a swine flu shot. However, the province has added people over age 65 who live in hospitals or long-term-care homes to its priority list.

For everyone else, swine flu is the seasonal flu this year.

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 18, Toronto's flu clinics opened to everyone. The Monday-to-Friday hours will be 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, the clinics will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinics will run until at Dec. 13.

 Here's their locations:

• Metro Hall, 55 John St., rotunda
• East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave., lower level
• North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St., members lounge  
• Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, rooms 1, 2 and 3
• Scarborough Civic Centre (rotunda), 150 Borough Dr.

All of the above clinics are wheelchair accessible and close to public transit. However, parking might be limited. The city has the schedule available in many languages. There is also a map of the locations.

The Toronto Public Health website also has the following caution:

Please note: If you have a fever or are sick please wait until you are feeling better before getting vaccinated. For your safety, you will not be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine at a Toronto Public Health clinic if you have:

• had a seizure in the past three months
• a neurological/seizure condition that changes frequently
• had a severe reaction to a vaccine in the past
• an allergy to eggs or egg protein
• an allergy to thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines
• any condition that leads to severe bleeding when they get an injection
• been diagnosed with a neurological condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome within eight weeks of receiving a vaccine
• had wheezing, chest tightness or breathing difficulties that required hospitalization within one day of receiving a vaccine

Infants must be at least six months of age to be immunized. If you have a fever or are otherwise sick, Toronto Health asks that people don't come to a clinic until they feel well.

Other GTA clinics

Peel Region

The clinics run until Dec. 11 unless otherwise indicated.

The Brampton clinics will be held at the Brampton Soccer Centre, 1495 Sandalwood Pkwy. E, at at 11 Indell Lane (at Airport Road and Walker Drive via Clark Boulevard).

The Soccer Centre clinic will run until Dec. 11, while the Indell Lane clinic closed on at the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 4.

The hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. On weekends, the clinics will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Mississauga, there will be a flu clinic at the Blessed Trinity Catholic School, 2495 Credit Valley Rd..

The clinic will run from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the week. On weekends, the clinics will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Peel's website allows people to check wait times. Here is a special note for parents of young children.

See the Peel website for information about about second doses for young children.

Durham Region

All clinics will close by Dec. 19, although most will close by Dec. 18. The following clinics' hours will be 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Here are the locations:

• Bowmanville, 205 Baseline Rd., (Baseline Rd. and Regional Rd. 57)
• Oshawa, 850 King St. W., Unit 26 (KIng and Thornton)
• Whitby, 3050 Garden St. (Garden and Rossland)
• Pickering, Pickering Town Centre, Unit 14, 1355 Kingston Rd.
• North Durham-Uxbridge - 2 Douglas Rd., Uxbridge (Toronto and Douglas)

Here are some rotating clinics, operating from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.:

• Ajax, Ajax Community Centre, 75 Centennial Rd., HMS Ajax Room, on Thursdays and Fridays
• Brock, Brock Commmunity Health Centre, 123 Laidlaw St. S., Cannington -- on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, call 705-432-3388
• Scucog, Scugog Community Recreational Centre, 1655 Reach St., Port Perry, Mondays and Tuesdays

People are asked to bring an OHIP card or a driver's licence, but if you don't have one, you'll still be vaccinated. People who have special needs are asked to speak with the clinic greeter upon arrival.

See the Durham website for information on the second dose for children.

York Region

The York clinics will all be closed by the end of day on Dec. 13. The following clinics will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays unless indicated, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends:

• Vaughan - Vellore Village Community Centre, 1 Villa Royale Ave.
• Richmond Hill clinic - Rouge Woods Community centre, 110 Shirley Dr.
• Markham - 8100 Warden Ave. (former Markham Hydro building), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Newmarket - Ray Twinney Recreation Complex , 100 Eagle St. W.

People can call the York Region Health Connect line at 1-800-361-5653. More information, including for seasonal flu clinics, is available at the region's website.

The region advises the following: "If you have concerns about symptoms, you should contact your family physician or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Halton Region

Here are the schedules and locations for the clinics.

Burlington:

Gary Allan High School - Gymnasium
3250 New St.
Mon, Dec. 14: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Georgetown:

Gellert Community Centre - Kinsmen Hall
10241 Eighth Line, Halton Hills
Monday, Dec. 14: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Milton:

New Life Church - CYC Black Box Theatre
824 Thompson Rd. South

Monday, Dec. 14: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. 

Oakville:

Halton Regional Centre - Auditorium
1151 Bronte Rd.
Adjuvanted & Unadjuvanted Vaccines
Saturday, Dec. 12: noon - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Check Halton's website for detail such as wait-time estimates.