Health and Community Services
November 2, 2009H1N1
Unadjuvanted Vaccine Available by Appointment this Week
for Pregnant Women up to 20 Weeks
The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and
Community Services, announced today that a supply of H1N1 unadjuvanted
vaccine will be available later this week for women in the first half of
pregnancy (up to 20 weeks).
"We will be receiving 2,900 doses of the unadjuvanted
vaccine tomorrow and will be able to offer it to pregnant women the
first half of their pregnancy on an appointment basis," said Minister
Kennedy. "Pregnant women are asked to contact their regional health
authority to make an appointment to receive the vaccine later this
week."
Starting today, women are asked to call the toll free
lines established by regional health authorities to make an appointment
to receive the vaccine. Appointments will start on Wednesday, November 4
and will be separate from the regular immunization clinics. The toll
free lines are as follows:
Eastern Health 1-877-752-4358
Central Health 1-877-311-2613
Western Health 1-877-632-H1N1(4161)
Labrador-Grenfell Health 1-877-896-0422
H1N1 vaccination clinics continued today for the high
risk categories put in place this past weekend which include:
Children six months up to 59 months (up to fifth
birthday)
People five years of age up to and including 24
years of age with chronic conditions
Pregnant women in the second half of their
pregnancy (20 to 40 weeks)
Parents or other primary care providers (up to
two per child) of children under the age of six months; and of
immunocompromised children and young adults (up to and including 24
years of age) who cannot themselves be vaccinated.
Minister Kennedy added that he will provide further
details about our plans for the small supply of adjuvanted vaccine that
the province will receive on November 4.
"I assure everyone that we will eventually receive
enough vaccine for anyone who wants it and I ask for patience as we
attempt to deal with this national vaccine shortage," said Minister
Kennedy.
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Media contact:
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
2009 11 02
5:10 p.m.