NEW H1N1 CATEGORY ANNOUNCED

The H1N1 flu vaccination campaign will be expanded to include another small risk group, in addition to the risk groups announced late last week.

"We will also vaccinate the primary caregivers of babies under six months, which in most cases means one or both parents," Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Moira McKinnon said. "Children under six months cannot be immunized because their immune system is not mature enough yet, and vaccinating their parents will help protect them."

McKinnon also provided more detail on who qualifies for the vaccine if they have underlying health problems. Clinics for these groups are open as early as today in some health regions. They will continue to roll out over the next several days and there will be variations between health regions. Please check the websites for local clinic information.

The current risk groups include the following categories:

• People of all ages who are immune compromised, including those diagnosed with or receiving treatment for:
  o Chronic renal failure;
  o On Hemodialysis;
  o Leukemia, Lymphoma;
  o Receiving Chemotherapy;
  o Receiving Radiotherapy;
  o Transplant recipients (Solid organ, bone marrow, etc.);
  o HIV/AIDS;
  o Congenital immunodeficiency; and
  o On high dose steroids or other medications causing immunosuppression.
• People under 35 with underlying health conditions such as:
  o Asthma;
  o Diabetes and other endocrine disorders;
  o Neurological disorders;
  o Chronic Heart and Lung Disease;
  o Non White Cell Haematogical disorders (eg: sickle cell etc.);
  o Obesity;
  o Cancer (other than leukemia or lymphoma) and not on chemotherapy; and
  o Liver disease.
  Provincial clinics are still taking other high risk categories, including health care workers, pregnant and post-partum women (up to four weeks), and children from six months to Grade Six who have not yet been immunized.

Regional health authorities will determine the exact rollout in their communities. For information on flu clinics in your area, please log onto www.healthlineonline.ca or call the HealthLine at 1-877-800-0002.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083