Young adults and school-age children are now eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced Monday.
The increase allows people from six months to 24 years of age to get vaccinated.
Prior to Monday's expansion of eligibility, the vaccine was limited to pregnant women, medical personnel and caretakers of infants. The expansion makes the vaccine available in Wisconsin to the original target group outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
""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,"" state health officer Seth Foldy said in a statement.
According to University Health Services Executive Director Sarah Van Orman, Wisconsin received an additional vaccine shipment last week. Van Orman said students can receive the vaccine during walk-in appointments.
""We are going to provide students with lots of opportunities to get in the next couple of weeks, pending supplies,"" she said.
Van Orman said H1N1 cases at UW-Madison have dropped considerably in the past two weeks.
""The cases are down again significantly this week, which is good news, but again we know that this is fairly unpredictable, so we think this is a good time for people to really think about getting vaccinated,"" she said.
Van Orman said students can receive the vaccine Dec. 4 at the SERF between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
