Dr. Martin Lavoie is the deputy chief medical officer of health for Alberta. (CBC)A young girl from central Alberta is the first child to die from swine flu in the province, one of four new deaths announced Friday by provincial health officials.

"It is the first child, but this is not unexpected," said Dr. Martin Lavoie, the deputy chief medical officer of health for Alberta. "Even with seasonal influenza we see that happening on an annual basis."

The others who died included a middle-aged man from central Alberta, a middle-aged woman from the southern part of the province and a young man from the Calgary area. All four who died had chronic medical conditions.

More specific information about the individuals, including their ages and the communities they were from, was not released.

The number of Alberta deaths attributed to H1N1 since the pandemic began in April has now risen to 38. There have now been 755 hospitalizations due to the illness since April.

More high-risk groups to get shots

Alberta is adding two more high-risk groups to its H1N1 vaccination program.

Starting Saturday, shots will be offered to people between the ages of 18 and 44 with chronic medical conditions and household contacts for individuals who can't receive vaccinations.

It was also announced that starting Monday, Alberta Health Services will start making the vaccine available for firefighters, police and provincial peace officers. Some will be vaccinated in their workplaces, others will have to go to public clinics.

"Of course, there are some operational considerations, so it may be a bit later, a few days later, in some areas," Lavoie said.

On Friday, Health Canada approved the use of adjuvant-free swine flu vaccine for both pregnant women and healthy people between the ages of 10 and 64. This has allowed Alberta to open up its program to more people.

"So now, because we have a bit more than what we need in terms of pregnant women, we certainly can expand a little bit more," Lavoie said. "So it's good news. We have vaccine available and it's also part of the reason why we're expanding to new groups this week."

Taken in combination with earlier announcements, the latest eligibility expansion means every Albertan between the ages of five and 64 who has a chronic medical condition will be able to get the vaccine starting Saturday.

Previously announced high-risk groups can still get vaccinated. They include pregnant women, children over six months and under five years of age, and both parents or one parent and one caregiver of a baby younger than six months.