Ont. to start vaccinations ahead of schedule

Health Minister Deb Matthews says Ontario will start rolling out its pandemic vaccine ahead of schedule next week.

She says clinics will be open a week early to give the swine flu shot to priority groups now that Ottawa has approved the vaccine.

But the H1N1 shot intended for pregnant women is not expected to be available for two more weeks.

Two million doses of the swine flu vaccine have already been shipped to the provinces and territories to await the green light from the federal government, which came on Wednesday.

Ontario health officials have said the vaccine will be offered first to adults with chronic conditions, health-care workers, people living in remote and isolated communities, pregnant women and children six months to five years of age.

Ontario's chief medical officer of health has recommended that pregnant women wait and take the vaccine that doesn't contain adjuvant an additive that boosts the impact of a vaccine given concerns about its safety.

Last week, Dr. Arlene King said she'd noticed a spike in flu-like activity in Ontario, particularly in densely populated areas like Toronto and Ottawa.

King said that's what health officials saw during the first wave ofswine flu, but stopped short of confirming that the second wave has arrived in Ontario.

People over 65 seem to have an immunity to the H1N1 virus and are being asked to get the seasonal flu shot only for now, although they'll be able to get the swine flu vaccine later if they want it, King said.

Ontario residents will have to contact their local health units to find out where to get the vaccine, which may not be available through their family doctors.