Health and Community Services
November 3, 2009Priority
Groups Expanded for H1N1 Vaccine
The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and
Community Services, announced today that the priority groups to receive
the H1N1 vaccine will be further expanded effective November 5,
following the arrival of the province�s next shipment of adjuvanted
vaccine this week.
"We estimate that there are approximately 100,000
people between 25 and 65 years of age with chronic conditions,
representing about 20 per cent of the population," said Minister
Kennedy. "We simply don�t have enough vaccine to offer it to all of
these individuals at this time. We are trying to balance the limited
vaccine supply versus the needs of the public. Therefore, we have
expanded the priority groups based on a balance of the best medical
evidence before us, ethical considerations and the expectations of the
public."
The following groups will be added to the priority
groups for H1N1 vaccination beginning on Thursday, November 5. These new
groups include:
Hospital in-patients less than 65 years of age
with one or more chronic health conditions;
Expansion of school-aged children from
Kindergarten to Grade three;
Individuals between the ages of 25 and up to, but
not including, 40 with chronic respiratory disease such as asthma,
chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or
cystic fibrosis. Eligibility will require proof of active treatment
of the disease (e.g. Prescription, labeled medication, insurance
forms, etc.); and,
Individuals undergoing active cancer treatment
(chemotherapy or radiation) and
transplant patients (including
pre-transplant patients on a wait list and directed by their
physician to receive the vaccine and post transplant patients in the
last two years).
If individuals who fit in the above categories are
unable to be vaccinated due to the limited supply this week, they will
be prioritized for vaccination following next week�s vaccine shipment.
Individuals with questions regarding documentation
required to prove eligibility of chronic illness should call their local
RHA at the numbers listed 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
For a list of previous high risk groups, please visit
the November 2 news release (//www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2009/health/1102n12.htm).
This process is also separate from the delivery of
unadjuvanted vaccine being offered to women in the first half of their
pregnancy. These individuals have been asked to contact their RHA for an
appointment to receive the vaccine.
"I continue to ask for the cooperation and patience of
the public as we address the limited availability of vaccine at this
time," said Minister Kennedy. "I reiterate that there will eventually be
enough vaccine for everyone in the province who wants it."
The province�s next supply of adjuvanted vaccine is
expected on November 11.
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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 03
3:15 p.m.
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