Priority group list expanding for H1N1 vaccine
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Updated: November 12, 2009 11:25 AM
The list of those eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine is growing this week, depending on the demand for the vaccine supply.
“Northern Health’s ability to expand distribution of the vaccine across the region will vary from community to community, based on the amount of vaccine available and the number of individuals in various priority groups who attend local immunization clinics,” said Dr. David Bowering, Northern Health chief medical health officer. “Because of the difficulty in predicting demand for the vaccine, the expansion of eligibility to additional groups will vary from clinic to clinic.”
The next priority groups added to the eligibility list include: children from six months to under five-years-old; household contacts of infants younger than six months; household contacts of people with compromised immune systems; and health care workers in critical care settings, including paramedics.
“Public health staff in Northern Health are working very hard to ensure that the highest priority groups are the first to receive the H1N1 vaccine across the region”, added Dr. Bowering. “This massive effort is influenced by vaccine availability, the logistics of distribution and on the number of people who attend local clinics.”
The public is encouraged to visit Northern Health’s website for details on which groups are now eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine through their local public health clinics. The same information is also available by calling HealthLink BC by dialing 8-1-1.
