HOUSTON, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Michigan Department of Community Health said on Tuesday that restrictions limiting A/H1N1flu vaccinations to high-risk groups would be lifted in all local health departments next Monday.

    The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended giving the vaccine only to people in high-risk groups, including pregnant women, young people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, and people from ages 25 to 64 who have underlying health problems such as diabetes.

    But a greater supply of the vaccine allowed some state and county health departments to provide the A/H1N1 flu vaccine to the general public.

    "It really is a supply and demand issue," said Dr. Greg Holzman, chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Community Health, noting the agency felt it had already reached many of the people who would have been hit hard by the illness.

    "We've gotten our (high-risk) groups vaccinated as soon as possible, and feel we are able to open it up to everybody," he added.

    The number of cases of the flu statewide declined significantly, from about 31,103 the week ending on Nov. 15 down to 10,059 the week ending on Nov. 22.

    The flu historically comes in waves, and it appeared as though the second wave may have peaked, said Holzman, advising the general public to get vaccination against a possible third wave.

    "The cases can increase at any moment because we have five months of the flu season left," said James McCurtis, spokesman for the state department.

    "We strongly encourage people to get the H1N1 vaccine because it is the best way to prevent getting the virus," McCurtis added.

    With 73 million doses of the A/H1N1 flu vaccine available nationwide, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the CDC, said on Friday that some communities were beginning to offer it to people outside the priority groups. "The number of communities that do that will increase in the coming weeks," he predicted.

    Local reports show that a number of other states, including Maryland, Texas, Alaska, Arkansas and Oklahoma, had begun offeringA/H1N1 flu vaccine to all comers.

    "We're still in a period of changing gears, from a time of not having enough vaccine, to a time of having adequate supply for anyone to receive shots," Frieden explained.

Special Report:  World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu