Dr. Robert Strang, chief public health officer, announced on Monday, Nov. 16 how Nova Scotia will implement new guidelines from the Public Health Agency of Canada about second doses of H1N1 vaccine for children.
Dr. Strang also announced additional groups for whom unadjuvanted vaccine will be used.
Healthy children age three to nine will need only one dose of vaccine.
The following children will require a second dose a minimum of 21 days after the first dose:
•all children between six months and less than three years of age
•children age three to nine years who are immuno-compromised.
•Children age three to nine, with a chronic medical condition but who are not immuno-compromised.
The province has also received federal licensing to provide the 23,500 doses of its unadjuvanted vaccine. The unadjuvanted vaccine is available for pregnant women. It can now also be used for those with chronic conditions between the ages of 10 and 64 years who are not immuno-compromised.
"The unadjuvanted vaccine will be available in physician's offices for pregnant women and those between 10 and 64 who are not immuno-compromised," said Dr. Strang. "This is good news because it means we now have more vaccine for the at-risk groups."
The unadjuvanted vaccine also has a longer shelf life, which Dr. Strang said will be good when immunization is opened up to the healthy population.
Province announces H1N1 vaccine guidelines for second dose for kids and unadjuvanted vaccine
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