The Nevada Division of Health has notified government clinics, private physicians and retail pharmacies statewide to provide H1N1 vaccinations starting Dec. 18 to people even if they are not in one of the five priority groups that, up to now, have exclusively had access to the inoculations."We do have an adequate supply of H1N1 now to provide vaccinations for everyone, and we will continue to do that contingent on the supply in the future," department spokeswoman Martha Framsted said.
After the H1N1 virus first emerged in April, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines that restricted use of the limited supply to high-risk groups that were at greater risk of contracting the flu or suffering serious complications from it.
Dr. Tracey Green, the state health officer, said Friday a review of the available supply of H1N1 vaccine shows there should be enough for all Nevadans.
Green said public health authorities will continue encouraging vaccinations for people identified by the CDC as being most at-risk of significant complications from H1N1 infection.
That includes pregnant women, caregivers for children younger than 6 months old, health care workers, people ages 6 months to 24 years, and people 24 years and older who have underlying chronic health problems.
