More In State Become Eligible For H1N1 Vaccine

State health officials have expanded the eligibility for the H1N1 vaccine to cover people up to age 24.

Healthy people aged 2 through 24 are now eligible to receive the nasal spray vaccine, and people aged 6 through 24 with high-risk medical conditions are eligible to receive the injectable vaccine, according to the state Department of Public Health.

As of Monday, health care providers in the state had received 388,300 doses of the vaccine. That's more than double what the state had a week earlier, but only enough to vaccinate a little more than 10 percent of the state's population.

In addition to those newly eligible to receive the vaccine, people in target groups identified earlier are still eligible.

•People who may receive the H1N1 nasal spray include anyone who lives with or cares for infants younger than 6 months old, and healthy health care workers and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material. The nasal spray is only approved for healthy people aged 2 to 49 who are not pregnant.

•People eligible for the H1N1 shot include pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants under 6 months old, all children aged 6 months through 6 years old, and health care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material.

Because the vaccine supply is still limited, not all health care workers who have direct contact with patients may be vaccinated, and priority will go to health care workers who have direct contact with children, according to the state health department.

Some physicians have received the vaccine and can administer it to patients who are eligible. People whose doctors are not offering the vaccine should look for H1N1 vaccine clinics in their areas. A list of mass dispensing areas, which will distribute the vaccine, and their phone numbers, is available at www.ct.gov/dph/mda.

A list of scheduled public clinics is also available at www.courant.com/swineflu.

A list of high-risk conditions that would make someone eligible for the vaccine is available at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/highrisk.htm.