HOUSTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State of Alaska has lifted restrictions on the inoculation of the A/H1N1 flu vaccine, according to health officials of the state.

    Alaska's health officials said it appears that the state has the capacity to provide Alaskans in the priority groups with the chance to get the vaccine, so it is the time to lift inoculation restrictions on general public who would like to get vaccinated.

    Due to a vaccine shortage, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended to supply only people in the most vulnerable groups with the vaccine, including pregnant women, young people between the ages of six months and 24 years old, health care workers and those aged from 25 to 64 with underlying health problems, such as diabetes.

    "The vaccine supply appears to be loosening up," said Laurel Wood, manager of the immunization program at the state's Public Health Division.

    Some health-care providers in Alaska have reported they have vaccine storage, which is still fresh, in refrigerators, Wood explained, stressing that "our goal is to get it out of refrigerators and into the noses and arms of all the Alaskans."

    Wood also suggested that those who will be on journey at Christmas get the vaccine before setting off.

    Meanwhile, local health officials in Anchorage, port city in southern Alaska, has also decided to remove the vaccination restrictions in the city as of December.

    According to health officials in Alaska, the state has been allocated 160,000 doses of the A/H1N1 vaccine, and this week will see the last shot of them.

    The infection wave of A/H1N1 flu in Alaska now appears to be on the decline as is the case of the United States in general. However, most health experts have warned people to keep alert as seasonal flu has kicked in and in case the A/H1N1 virus makes another wave of onslaught.

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