The number of health-care professionals called into service for H1N1 vaccinations is a sign of poor government preparation, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees charges. (Keith Srakocic/Associated Press)

The reassignment of health-care workers to help with H1N1 vaccination clinics in Alberta is adding more stress to a health system that is already understaffed, says the union that represents those workers.

"The government should have been well prepared for all of the issues around the H1N1 inoculation," said Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees. "It seems now like they're manning all hands to the pump in one area."

Smith said the strategy is also making patients wait longer for important health services. Some hospital outpatient services have been reduced and hours at public health clinics have been cut, with programs for new mothers put on hold.

The senior medical health officer for Alberta said there is no plan to reconsider the moves.

"The redeployment will be phased," said Dr. Gerry Predy. "As we get more people vaccinated, I guess we'll be able to put them back to where they were."

Long lineups turned the H1N1 vaccination program into a political issue, the union representing health care workers in Alberta says. (CBC)

"But again, as we look at critical care, we might be redeploying some staff to critical-care areas, doing those kinds of things. So it depends on what the need is, because we try to get the staff to where the need is the greatest."

The long lineups outside vaccination clinics turned the program into a political issue, said Smith.

"I guess we're hoping that it's for a short term only because even in those areas that they're pulling staff away from, they're already stretched in terms of being able to provide the services because of, you know, lack of staff and that sort of thing," he said.

Two more high-risk groups were added to the swine flu vaccination program on Tuesday.

Children under 10 with chronic health conditions are now eligible for vaccinations, along with their parents and in some cases caregivers of babies under six months of age.

Parents will be asked to provide proof of age and, if applicable, prescriptions or other documentation of their child's chronic health condition.

In the case of infants under six months, either both parents or one parent and one caregiver will be offered the shot.

Children from six months to under five and pregnant women will continue to receive vaccinations.

Health officials expect a shipment of 237,000 more doses of the vaccine later in the week, and are considering adding people under 65 with chronic health conditions to the vaccination program.