N.S. expands high-risk group for H1N1 vaccine

Nova Scotians 19 years of age or younger and who have chronic medical conditions, along with mothers who have just given birth, are now eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

The partner of each mother is also eligible for a shot.

Dr. Robert Strang, the province's public health officer, announced the change Thursday, adding that all others not already deemed to be in high-risk groups will still have to wait their turn.

Citing national vaccine shortages, Nova Scotia initially limited flu shots last Friday to children between the ages of six months and 59 months, pregnant women, residents of First Nations, and front-line health workers.

Strang said those under 65 with a chronic medical condition are also considered to be at high risk but there still isn't enough H1N1 vaccine for them to be inoculated.

He said the province also doesn't have enough vaccine to give shots to all young people with chronic medical conditions, but he'd prefer to start giving them shots right away.

More than 472,000 Nova Scotians about half of the province's population are living with chronic ailments from asthma to cancer.

Strang said health authorities will attempt to vaccinate new mothers prior to their leaving hospital with their infants.

"I'm encouraging everyone in these groups to get immunized to protect themselves, their family and their community," he said.

To date, the province has received about 178,900 doses of the vaccine.

"I do understand people not included in the priority groups are frustrated and concerned but we will expand the groups further as soon as we are able to, based on vaccine supply," said Strang.

The reason for vaccinating new mothers is that infants under six months of age are considered a high-risk group, said the health officer.

Strang said one person in the province was in intensive care Wednesday due to complications arising from swine flu.

A total of 26 people have been admitted to hospitalin the province since September but he was unable to provide figures on how many are currently in hospital.