Priority Group Expanded for H1N1 Vaccine

The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, announced today that the priority group to receive the H1N1 vaccine will be further expanded, following the arrival of the province�s next shipment of vaccine this week.

�We will continue with our balanced approach to vaccinating the population which includes a number of high risk groups and our school age children,� said Minister Kennedy. �Our statistics regarding hospital admissions demonstrate that individuals with chronic respiratory conditions continue to be at highest risk for severe disease, so we have expanded the group to include all individuals with such conditions under the age of 65. We also continue to be committed to vaccinating school age children and will begin vaccinations for children in grades four to six next week.�

Beginning on Thursday, the priority group for H1N1 vaccination will expand to include individuals less than 65 years of age with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Individuals will require proof of active treatment of the disease (for example prescription, labelled medication, insurance forms).

In addition, individuals under 65 years of age with compromised respiratory function due to a physical, neurological or muscular disorder (for example ALS, multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, spina bifida) will be eligible for vaccination at this time. As many of these individuals are known to regional continuing care programs, individuals will be contacted by staff to arrange for vaccination. Individuals who are not connected to a continuing care program can contact their regional health authority at the numbers listed below for further information:

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

Individuals with questions regarding documentation required to prove eligibility of chronic illness should call their local regional health authority at the numbers above.

Beginning Monday, November 16, children from grades four to six will also begin receiving the H1N1 vaccinations. The vaccine will be delivered in the schools where possible.


The full list of individuals eligible for the H1N1 vaccination includes:

• all 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;
• 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 can not themselves be vaccinated;
• hospital in-patients less than 65 years of age with one or more chronic health conditions;
• individuals undergoing active cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiation);
• 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);
• school-aged children from kindergarten to grade six;
• individuals under 65 years of age 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, ); and,
• individuals under 65 years of age with compromised respiratory function due to a physical, neurological or muscular disorder (e.g. ALS, multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia, paraplegia).
   

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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 10                                          7:05 p.m.