San Juan County health officials announced today that the groups currently given priority for receiving H1N1 vaccinations now includes adults 25 to 64 years of age who suffer from a chronic health problem that places them at greater risk of suffering serious complications from H1N1 influenza.

Those chronic conditions include asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and individuals with conditions or taking medications which suppress the immune system.

San Juan County Health and Community Services Director John Manning urged people who fall into one of the priority groups for vaccination to contact their own health care provider if possible, and to be prepared to wait, “At this point our supply of vaccine remains below demand, and as we receive additional shipments we are distributing the vaccine through private providers. Individuals should only contact the health department directly to arrange a vaccination if they do not have a provider or cannot make an appointment with their provider.”

Contact information for medical providers receiving vaccine is available at http://www.sanjuanco.com/flu/h1n1vaccine.aspx