ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Prisoners and staff at Newfoundland’s largest prison have been given the H1N1 vaccine to reduce the spread of the virus, health officials confirmed Tuesday.The Eastern Health district said the inmate population at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s was identified as an at-risk group by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

“The decision to provide the vaccination to inmates was taken early in our planning process, as we prepared for the onset of this pandemic influenza,” said Vickie Kaminski, president and CEO of Eastern Health in a release.

“The vaccination of HMP as a group was taken before we were made aware that we would receive less of the vaccine than originally anticipated.”

Inmates and others in closed correctional facilities are considered at-risk because they live in a confined environment that makes them vulnerable to the spread of a virus.Prisoners got their shots two weeks ago but because of the limited availability of the vaccine a general vaccination program at other provincial jails was put on hold.Those being held at the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Centre in Whitbourne and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Women in Clarenville are now being vaccinated using the same criteria set for the general public.

“We understand that some people are concerned that they have not yet received the vaccination,” said Kaminski.

“However, with the supply of vaccine limited, our immediate priority is to ensure that all high-risk individuals and school-aged children are vaccinated. We hope to begin the immunization program for the general public in the coming weeks, based on the amount of vaccine available.”To date, Eastern Health has vaccinated approximately 54,000 people.