H1N1 FLU SHOTS EXPANDED TO PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

H1N1 vaccination will be expanded across the province later this week and next to include school age children from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

"The science is showing us since H1N1 appeared in the spring that this age group is at a higher risk for illness and hospitalization," Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Moira McKinnon said. "We will continue to expand vaccinations to targeted high-risk groups as the vaccine becomes available."

The vaccine will be delivered in schools and clinics, and schools will be sending home consent forms for the parents to sign before their child can receive the vaccine.

To date, health care workers, people in remote and isolated communities, children from six months to under five years of age, pregnant women and women post-partum up to four weeks remain eligible to receive the vaccine.

"I want to stress that these people are all still eligible to receive the vaccine if for whatever reason they missed it last week or this week," McKinnon said. "We are not leaving one risk group for another, just expanding the pool of those eligible to receive it. And as the vaccine becomes available, we will move it as quickly and safely as possible to high risk groups."

Approximately 172,000 doses of the vaccine have been distributed to Regional Health Authority's (RHA). The first week of vaccination showed positive uptake.

Consents forms will start going home as early as today; parents are asked to read it carefully. Consent forms are available on most RHA websites and at www.health.gov.sk.ca.

Further designation of risk groups will be made as the vaccine is available.

For information on clinics, click on to 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