Across Canada, the vaccine for H1N1 is being administered to help combat the theH1N1 flu pandemic. Those who need it most should get it as early as possible.

Those who will benefit most from immunization include:

• People under 65 with chronic health conditions and their caregivers.
• Pregnant women.
• Children six months to less than five years of age and their caregivers
• People living in remote and isolated settings or communities
• Health care workers involved in pandemic response or the delivery of essential health care services
• Household contacts and care providers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or may not respond to vaccines

What is the difference between adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted vaccine?

An adjuvant is a substance that is added to a vaccine in order to boost the individual's response. It also means that less of the actual virus or "antigen" is needed to make a dose of the vaccine.

Non-adjuvanted vaccine has no "booster" element, and more antigen is needed to create this kind of vaccine.

Non-adjuvanted vaccine is recommended for pregnant women but both vaccines are considered equally safe. Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health agrees with the advice of PHAC - that the adjuvant is safe, and the risks posed to pregnant women who get the flu are far, far greater than any the vaccine may pose.

For more information visit the Alberta Health website at: http://albertahealthservices.ca/842.asp

Vaccine available in Calgary at the following locations:

• AvenidaVillage Mall, 303,12445 Lake Fraser Dr. S.E.
• Brentwood Village Mall, 302, 3630 Brentwood Road NW
• EMS Whitehorn Station, 100,3705 35th St. N.E.
• Richmond Road Diagnostic Treatment Centre, 1820 Richmond Rd. S.W.
• Olympic Oval, second floor, University of Calgary