The province announced it is expanding free flu vaccinations to all Nova Scotians this year.
Previously, publicly funded vaccinations were only extended to at-risk groups, such as the elderly, children under two years of age, pregnant woman and health-care workers.
But Health Minister Maureen MacDonald revealed on Thursday free immunization will be available to the vigorous and youthful as well.
“I think after last year’s H1N1 concerns, we thought that it would be a really good thing this year to make (immunization) available,” she told reporters. “We think there will be good uptake on the vaccine.”
MacDonald said her department is not anticipating an especially severe flu season, and that the policy is in keeping with other provinces.
She also said that the expansion of free vaccine to all will not drastically affect the cost to the province.
“It’s really very much in the ballpark of what we’ve been paying all along … between $1.2 and $1.4 million,” she said.
Flu season
Flu season in Nova Scotia typically runs from November to April.
