More groups added to flu shot list

Dr. Robert Strang, chief public health officer, announced on Thursday that two more groups have been added to the existing priority list for those receiving the H1N1 vaccine.

Added to the priority groups that already existed are children 19 years of age and under who have chronic medical conditions for which they receive regular medical treatment, and also women who have just given birth, along with their partners. The women and their partners will be vaccinated in the hospital after the births have occurred.

People who fall into these groups could start receiving the vaccine immediately by attending a mass community clinic. Dr. Strang said examples of chronic conditions for young people 19 years of age and under could include asthma, diabetes, children undergoing cancer treatments or those with cystic fibrosis. These vaccinations will not take place at doctor offices because the province still does not have enough vaccine to give to doctor offices.

Asked if a family’s word that their child falls into the chronic condition group will be good enough at the clinics, Dr. Strang said it will be, because he hopes that those not in the high-risk groups will waive their place in line for the time being to allow those who need the vaccine the most to get it at this time.

A national shortage of vaccine has changed how provinces are able to dole out their H1N1 vaccine. That has meant that groups identified to be at highest-risk of developing severe complications from H1N1 have been moved to the front of the line.

During Thursday’s news conference Dr. Strang admitted the province could actually run out of vaccine in the next few days depending on how many people in all of the priorities groups turn out for the clinics.

But, he said, more vaccine is on the way next week and the goal of public health officials is to get vaccine into the arms of Nova Scotians as quickly as they can. “There are probably more people than we have vaccine available for, if all the people in this (new) group come forward in the next few days, we quite well may run out of vaccine,” he said. “But I’d much rather immunize as much people as possible and run out of vaccine and have to wait for a day or two and get more vaccine than be overly cautious, (wait on vaccine) and leave people unprotected. “We may run out of vaccine Saturday or Monday, it’s not ideal, but its far better to immunize as many as you can and run out, than not immunize any people,” he said.

To date as of Thursday, the province has received 178,900 doses of vaccine. Next week it expects to receive an additional 28,500 doses of adjuvanted vaccine and 23,200 doses of unadjuvated vaccine, although Dr. Strang said Thursday they did not know what day of the week they will arrive.

The province’s chief public health officer also urged employers to be understanding and flexible with employees who need to go themselves, or take their children, to an immunization clinic.

The new high-risk groups announced on Thursday are added to those already on the list, who are still eligible to get the vaccine: * Pregnant women, and women up to four weeks postpartum; * Children aged six months to under five years old; * People living on First Nations communities; * Health care workers in district health authorities, long-term care facilities and home-care agencies who provide direct care to patients. This includes family physicians, family practice nurses, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

The province says if you are not in one of these risk groups to be patient. It says there will eventually be enough H1N1 vaccine made available to every Nova Scotia who wants it.

For more information on H1N1 and the province’s response, visit: www.gov.ns.ca