Halifax firefighters, police jump H1N1 queue
Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 10:15 AM AT
CBC News
Firefighters and police in the Halifax region are receiving the H1N1 vaccine this week, though they're not on the list of priority groups.
Mike LaRue, spokesman for the Halifax regional fire service, said the service received the vaccine last week before a shortage restricted immunization to only high-risk groups.
About 400 firefighters, 600 police officers and workers at the region's 911 centre were scheduled to be immunized this week.
"We want our front-line firefighters ready to go, and if we can prevent H1N1 from happening then we certainly want to be at the forefront so we can go to the emergency calls when the come in. Front-line emergency workers are essential," he said Thursday.
Firefighters and police were not on Nova Scotia's list of priority groups this week. Nor were they on the updated list out Thursday, when children under 19 with chronic medical conditions, new mothers and new fathers were added.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Forces is donating about half of its H1N1 vaccine to the provinces.
Of the military's 110,000 doses, it will give back 30,000 to the Public Health Agency of Canada to help with the shortfall, said Cmdr. Peter Clifford, senior physician for Joint Task Force Atlantic.
"In addition, they've committed to providing another 20,000 doses from the vaccine that has already been shipped to Canadian Forces clinics across Canada. So, for example, within the Maritime provinces we've been directed to provide 4,000 doses potentially to return back to the civilian authorities," he said.
A vaccination clinic was held Thursday in Halifax for members of the Princess Louise Fusiliers who are deemed "mission essential."
