Texas Department of State Health Services is opening up the state’s H1N1 vaccine supply to the general public, through medical clinics and public vaccination clinics.

Established patients of East Texas First Physicians Clinic in Fairfield and Fairfield Family Practice can call and make appointments for vaccinations.

Patients who do not have an established primary care provider can get vaccinations at a TDSHS public clinic set for Thursday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at Fairfield Civic Center in W.L. Moody Reunion Grounds.

With supplies of the H1N1 vaccine increasing, Texas health officials are urging providers to offer the vaccine to the general population but to continue to ensure people in priority get the vaccine they need.

Since early October, Texas had been targeting the limited vaccine supply to priority groups, such as pregnant women and people with high-risk health conditions, to help protect those most at risk.

The expansion is consistent with the overall vaccine strategy developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Texas has been allocated about 6.7 million doses of the vaccine by the CDC.

Based on projections from CDC, Texas expects to receive nearly 13 million doses of the vaccine by January.