POSTED: Monday, November 23rd, 2009 --- 6:15 p.m.

There are new guidelines listing for who should be the first to get the H1N1 flu vaccine when it's available. For the first time since early October the state is now meeting CDC guidelines.

So the priority groups for the H1N1 vaccines are now pregnant women, children ages six months to five years, people under 24, anyone under 65 with an underlying health condition and child care providers.

The state has received one million doses so far and they have used about half of them.

But, they do expect to get another million doses by the end of the year and at that point they may opening up the vaccinations to everyone.

Plus, fewer people have been showing up for the vaccinations than anticipated, so there is a surplus.

"Because we are adding additional groups doesn't mean there aren't still pregnant women to hit, there aren't still kids with asthma to hit. So there still is work left to be done. We are just trying to use what we have available to the best we can," said Seth Boffeli from Wisconsin Health Services.

Wisconsin was one of nine states that limited the target groups to the most vulnerable of the population.

The other states stuck with the original CDC guidelines and did the best with what they had.

That caused a lot more calls from people in the target groups that couldn't get the vaccine.

If you have question call 211 or your health care provider.

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POSTED: Monday, November 23rd, 2009 --- 12:30 p.m.

State Expands H1N1 Vaccine Group

Healthy School Age Children and Young Adults Added Back Into Target Group

The Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that it is expanding the H1N1 vaccination group to include healthy school age children and young adults. During the past few weeks, DHS has been monitoring the vaccine supply with public and private providers, as well as allocations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Based upon the H1N1 vaccine supply and feedback from providers, Wisconsin is returning to the original CDC target group recommendations today.

“We applaud the work of providers across the state in working to reach those individuals with underlying health conditions, which make them more-at-risk for influenza complications,” said State Health Officer Dr. Seth Foldy. “We’re pleased that we are able to expand the group even further today as we know that vaccine is one of the most successful tools in protecting the health of people in our state.”

With today’s expansion, Wisconsin’s public health organizations and private health care providers will have the flexibility of vaccinating individuals within the CDC’s original target group. This includes:

* Pregnant women
* Persons who live with or provide care for infants age 6 months or younger (examples: parents, siblings, daycare providers)
* Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
* All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
* Persons 25-64 years of age with conditions associated with higher risk of complications from influenza

Wisconsin has been allocated, or assigned, more than one million doses of H1N1 vaccine by the CDC. However, there is still not enough to open vaccinations to the general public statewide at this time. DHS continues to monitor the vaccine supply and will continue to expand the vaccine groups as quickly as possible.

Additional vaccine will be manufactured and distributed throughout the influenza season and the CDC is indicating there will eventually be enough vaccine for anyone who wishes to receive it.

People may call 2-1-1 to find out an H1N1 or seasonal influenza vaccine clinic nearest them. A “clinic finder” is also available online at http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov or www.wisconsinfluclinic.info.