The province has removed age restrictions on who can have their influenza vaccine in nasal-spray form.

Officials said Thursday that the FluMist nasal spray is being made available to Albertans outside of the 2-17-year-old age bracket.

This year, AHS said the form of the vaccine was requested less than expected – and officials said it has a shorter expiry date than Agriflu and Fluviral, the injectable vaccines offered through the immunization program.

“As of early November we have only administered about 38,000 doses, of total 150,000 available doses of FluMist,” Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. James Talbot said. “We want to make everyone aware of this option, and encourage all Albertans to be immunized against influenza.”

AHS said immunization is recommended for all Albertans – however, those considered to have a high risk for severe complications related to the flu, such as children between the ages of 6 and 23 months, anyone older than 65, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions, are encouraged to get the immunization as soon as possible.

For more information on AHS Immunization Clinics, call HEALTHLink Alberta at 1-866-408-5465, online or contact your family doctor or pharmacist.