New Brunswick's H1N1 vaccine program officially started Monday.

Health-care workers are the first in line to get the swine flu shot. They began getting the vaccine last Thursday.

Nicole Miller, a nurse manager with the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton, was among those getting the needle Monday.

She said she got the vaccine because she wants to protect herself, her family and her patients.

"I really thought about more the protective issue," Miller said. "We've been offering the influenza vaccine for years. This is really just another influenza vaccine of another sort."

Over the next two weeks, health care workers, members of First Nations communities, people with chronic diseases and children will be immunized against the swine flu.

The shot will be given to the general public after that.

The vaccine program, the largest in New Brunswick history, means that resources will be pulled from other programs to provide enough staff.

Some of the affected programs include preschool screening, health promotions, the "Healthy Learners" program and some sexual health services, said Jinette Pellerin, a director with New Brunswick's public heath services.

"Those services are still provided in some sense, in that we still have nurses at the office making sure we still respond to calls of people who show up a the office," she said. "And we'll be redirecting them to services in their own area."

All services should go back to normal after the H1N1 vaccine program finishes in a few months, Pellerin said.

The provincial Health Department's website lists where clinics are being held. People can also call New Brunswick's toll-free Tele-Care line (800-244-8353) for advice from nurses.