H1N1 vaccine criteria expanded in N.L.
Caregivers of high-risk people can be vaccinated now
Last Updated: Monday, November 2, 2009 | 9:07 AM NT
CBC News
Just days after warning of a shortage of the vaccine against the H1N1 virus, health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador are expanding the criteria for people who can get the shot immediately.
Health Minister Jerome Kennedy said the list of people who are considered to be at high risk of developing complications from swine flu has been adjusted, after tighter restrictions enforced on the weekend reduced lineups at vaccination clinics.
"We have assessed our vaccine supply," Kennedy said in a statement on Sunday, "and have now expanded the group to include parents or primary care providers of children under the age of six months and of immunocompromised children and young adults who cannot be vaccinated."
Up until Sunday afternoon, access to the vaccine was limited to children between the ages of six months and five years, people between the ages of five and 24 who have chronic conditions, and pregnant women who are in the second half of their pregnancy.
The stricter rules were put in place Friday, after Kennedy said health officials were worried they were running out of vaccine, caused in part by people jumping the queue to get the shot.
On Friday, hundreds and hundreds of people lined up at makeshift health clinics set up throughout the province to vaccinate people.
Kennedy pleaded with residents at the time not to line up at the clinics unless they met the criteria of being at high-risk.
"Let our children come first," Kennedy said. "Let's deal with our children and our adults with high-risk conditions."
The loosening of restrictions came as the province also announced the first death related to the H1N1 virus.
A 36-year-old woman from central Newfoundland died on Saturday.
"I'd like at this point," Kennedy told reporters Sunday afternoon, "to extend my sincerest sympathies to the family, and on behalf of the province we all feel for you."
Few details were being released about the woman, except that she had other health problems and was admitted to intensive care for treatment several days before dying.
Health officials say there are now 65 people hospitalized throughout the province who are either confirmed to have swine flu, or suspected of having it.
Nine of those people are being treated in intensive care units, and four of them are on ventilators.
The province isn't scheduled to receive another shipment of vaccine until Wednesday.
