Immunization Program Expands for School-Aged Children

Beginning Thursday, November 19, the H1N1 influenza vaccine will be offered to children in Grades 7-9, following the vaccination of children in Grades 4-6. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, made the announcement today during the daily update on the H1N1 influenza virus.

�We anticipate that we will have enough vaccine arriving this week to be able to expand the vaccination program to more children in our province,� said Minister Kennedy. �We continue to prioritize delivery of the vaccine for children and individuals at high risk of serious illness as a result of influenza.�

As stated previously, vaccinations will be given in schools, wherever possible and feasible. If the vaccine cannot be given in a particular school or if children are absent during the school-based vaccinations, parents can take their child to an immunization clinic. School immunization schedules will be posted on regional health authority websites.

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

• Children six months up to 59 months (up to fifth birthday);
• People five years of age up to but not including 65 years of age with chronic medical illnesses, including respiratory disease, diabetes, cardiac disease, blood disorders, bowel disease, etc.;
• School-aged children from Kindergarten to Grade 9
• Pregnant women;
• Parents or other primary care providers (up to two per child) of children under the age of six months and of immunocompromised individuals (up to and including 65 years of age) who cannot themselves be vaccinated;
• Pre-transplant patients on a wait list and all post-transplant patients (such as organ and stem cell transplant); and,
• Individuals of all ages currently receiving hemodialysis.

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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 16                             5:10 p.m.