Starting Monday, the H1N1 vaccine will be offered to more groups of B.C. residents, including all children, first responders and more health care workers.

Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall said the widened eligibility for vaccinations has become possible due to the arrival of more vaccine and because the federal government has now approved expanded use of unadjuvanted vaccine.

Priority is being expanded to include:

- Children up to age 18 (previously only those under five were to be vaccinated).

- First responders, including firefighters and police officers.

- People aged 65 and up with chronic health conditions.

- Remaining health care workers who not already eligible, including those in acute care, long-term care, home care and public health services.

B.C. on Friday received an extra 250,000 doses of vaccine that will be packaged and ready to roll out on Monday.

Despite the extra vaccine, Kendall said the additional groups now eligible for vaccination probably can't all be inoculated next week, and it's possible clinics will run out of the vaccine.

He said it doesn't make sense to slow the rollout in order to try to keep clinics open.

"We would rather have it run out and get into people's arms than to have it sitting in fridges," Kendall said.

It's not yet clear when vaccinations will be opened for healthy adults.

The pandemic shouldn't interfere with people's ability to go holiday shopping or attend festive parties, he said, but added those who are sick should stay home.

Care should also be taken to ensure the virus doesn't spread among kids lining up to see Santa Claus at local shopping malls.

"Everybody who's sick stays home – including Santa," Kendall said.

There are continued signs that the swine flu cases, at least in southern B.C., are leveling off.

B.C. has now distributed 900,000 doses of vaccine.

Fraser Health spokesperson Joan Marshall said as of Friday there are 15 patients with confirmed or suspected H1N1 flu that are hospitalized in Fraser Health.

They're occupying between a quarter and half of Fraser's current supply of ventilators, depending on the hospital.

"We certainly have enough ventilators to manage the demand H1N1 is placing on our sites right now."

Fewer people have been coming to ERs with flu-like symptoms, she said, but the number of new patients actually being admitted has stayed relatively constant.

FRASER HEALTH H1N1 CLINICS NOV.14-21

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2009

Chilliwack – The Landing Sports Centre, 45539 Spadina Avenue, 8:30am-5:00pm

Coquitlam - Poirier Community Centre, 630 Poirier Street, 8:30am-5:00pm

Langley – Langley Secondary School, 21405 56 Ave. 8:30am-5:00pm

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Pitt Meadows - Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre, 12027 Harris Road, 9:00am-3:00pm

Chilliwack - The Landing Sports Centre, 45539 Spadina Avenue, 9:00am-3:00pm

Surrey - North Surrey Recreation Centre, 10275 135 Street, 9:00am-3:00pm

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009

Abbotsford - Exhibition Park, AG Rec Building, Gate 2, 32470 Haida Drive, 9:00am-3:00pm

Langley - Langley Events Centre, 7888 200th Street,9:00am-3:00pm

New Westminster - Queens Park Arena, 600 8th Street, 9:00am-3:00pm

Hope - Hope Harvest Church, 888 3rd Avenue, 2:00pm-5:30pm

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

Port Coquitlam - The Old Post Office, 2100-2253 Leigh Square, 9:00am-2:30pm

Mission - Heritage Park Secondary School, 33700 Prentis Avenue, 9:00am-3:00pm

White Rock - Star of the Sea Community Hall, 15262 Pacific Ave, 9:00am-3:00pm

Boston Bar - Anderson Creek, 45999 Hicks Road, 10:00am-2:30pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Burnaby - Bonsor Rec Complex, 6550 Bonsor Ave, 1:00pm-5:00pm

North Delta - Kennedy House, 11760 88th Ave, 1:00pm-7:00pm

Chilliwack - The Landing Sports Center, 45539 Spadina Ave, 1:00pm-7:00pm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Abbotsford - Cadet Building, 32470 Haida Drive, 1:00pm-7:00pm

Port Coquitlam - The Old Post Office, 2100-2253 Leigh Square, 1:00pm-7:00pm

Surrey - Our Lady of Good Council Church, 10460 139 Street, 1:00pm-7:00pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009

Coquitlam - Poirier Community Centre, 630 Poirier Street, 9:00am-3:00pm

Langley - Langley Events Centre, 7888 200th Street, 9:00am-3:00pm

Mission - Heritage Park Secondary School, 33700 Prentis Ave, 9:00am-3:00pm