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After receiving an new shipment of the H1N1 flu vaccine, the Ontario government is slowly expanding the number of groups it says can immediately receive the shot.

The province's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Arlene King, said that first responders, correctional workers, and senior citizens who live in extended care homes will now be considered among the high-risk groups eligible to receive the H1N1 shot.

Ontario is expected to ship 395,000 doses of vaccine to the province's public health units on Wednesday.

“Based on our supply of this week, we've decided we can open the door a crack,” Dr. King said.

The vaccination program had previously focused on groups including pregnant women, young children, people living in remote areas, and people with underlying health complications such as asthma. They are all still eligible.

Among the first responders eligible will be police officers and firefighters, Dr. King said.

The news came as the province's death toll reached 52. There are 184 people in hospital, including 69 are in intensive care, she said Tuesday.

Dr. King said the effect of the virus continues to vary across Ontario.

“It's a big province, and there's going to be variability in the amount of activity there is across the province,” she said.

A small number of Ontario Ministry of Health staff who are directly involved in the pandemic response will also be immunized this week.

The province is also sitting on 375,000 doses of unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine, which is preferred for pregnant women, but is awaiting final approval from Ottawa before distributing it.

With a report from CTV and The Canadian Press