Ontario expands immunization program to include cops, firefighters

Ontario health officials announced Tuesday they are expanding H1N1 immunizations to include "first responders" such as police officers and firefighters, correctional officers and those aged 65 and over living in long-term care.

Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, also said a small group of ministry staff involved in pandemic response, including herself, will be able to get immunized. King said that is likely between 100 and 120 poeple.

King said a decsion will be made later this week on when to expand vaccinations to the general public.

She said the province received 770,000 doses of the vaccine on Monday from the federal government, including 375,000 doses of the un-adjuvanted vaccine that still needs Health Canada approval. That approval is expected later this week.

King said that less than 1.9 million doses have been sent to clinics, doctor's offices and hospitals across the province, and "most" of that supply has actually been administered.

The original goal was to have 2.2 million vaccinated by the end of last Saturday, but King said the numbers of people going to clinics is declining.

The number of deaths from H1N1 has risen to 52, up 15 from Friday, but King said most of these cases actually happened earlier but were only confirmed as H1N1 on the weekend.