[wooohooo]

H1N1 clinics now only for high-risk Albertans

The Alberta government has halted all H1N1 flu shot clinics across the province in the wake of a shortage of the vaccine and growing demand from citizens to access it.
When flu shot clinics resume this week, they will only be open to high-risk groups--and all others will be turned away, said Dr. Gerry Predy, senior medical officer of health with Alberta Health Services.


Opposition members said Saturday the government's about-face is medically negligent, suggesting Premier Ed Stelmach and Liepert should be held legally responsible for their actions.
But Liepert defended the province's immunization plan and said it's worked to inoculate 10 per cent of the population.
"Probably over 300,000 people in Alberta have been vaccinated, so I don't know how anyone can say it wasn't a success," said Liepert, adding Alberta's aboriginal population and most health-care workers have got their shots.

"But it was also incredibly oversubscribed and it was oversubscribed relative to the vaccine that's available. No one can be blamed for vaccine not being available," said Liepert.

When the flu shots are made available again, it will only be given to pregnant women, children six months to less than five years of age, people under 65 years of age with chronic health conditions, health-care workers and those living in isolated communities.
"We will be very strict. We will be turning people away that don't meet the criteria," said Predy.