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Ont. to broaden flu vaccine group to police, firefighters, ministry staff

Provided by: Canadian Press
Written by: THE CANADIAN PRESS
Nov. 10, 2009

An ampoule of swine flu (H1N1) vaccine during a clinic for first responders at the Winchester Town Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 in Winchester, Mass. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Charles Krupa

TORONTO - Police, firefighters and Ministry of Health staff are among the groups that will be offered the H1N1 vaccine next in Ontario, the province's top medical health official said Tuesday.

The expanded vaccine rollout this week will also target people over 65 who live in institutions, such as long-term care homes, and frontline corrections workers.

"We decided that we can open the door a crack, by and large, in terms of offering it to others who would benefit from immunization," said Dr. Arlene King.

The 395,000 doses the province received from Ottawa this week allow for the limited expansion of the vaccine program, King added.

While Health Ministry staff are included in that group it's only a small number of people "who are directly involved in managing the pandemic response."

"This includes all ministry emergency operations centre staff, staff working on surveillance, immunization and public health infection control, and staff responsible for distributing the province's vaccine shipments," King said.

"Everyone would agree it's important to have the critical people who are managing the health-care system, particularly pandemic response, protected from illness so that we can continue to do that."

King said she will be among those getting the shot this week.

The province estimates there will be enough vaccine for everyone in the province by the end of December.

There have been 52 swine flu related deaths in the province since April, up from 37 deaths reported last week.

Fourteen of the newly reported deaths occurred before last Friday and an additional death happened over the weekend, said King, who added H1N1 activity continues to rise across the province.

Ontario is expected to ship the 395,000 doses of vaccine to the province's public health units on Wednesday.

The new shipment comes as some units temporarily close due to vaccine shortages while others have begun vaccinating the general public.

The province has also received 375,000 doses of the unadjuvanted vaccine, which is preferred for pregnant women, but is awaiting final approval from Ottawa before distributing it.

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