H1N1 flu shots could be available to the general public as early as the middle of next week, according to state Health Department officials, who until now have asked that vaccine be reserved for patients in high-risk groups.

Officials hope to lift vaccine restrictions as soon as they complete a final review of vaccine supplies at clinics and other health-care providers around the state, a department spokesman said Friday.

As of last Wednesday, 1.4 million doses had been administered or ordered for 810 clinics and public health agencies -- enough for about half the people in high-risk groups and about one-fourth of the state's population.

State officials said this week they hope to lift the restrictions once the number of doses distributed for high-risk groups reaches about 2 million.

Groups on the state's priority list as of this week included anyone aged 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women, health care workers, people who live with or care for infants, and adults with chronic health conditions. They are people known to be especially vulnerable to the novel virus.

The St. Paul-Ramsey Department of Health plans to conduct a flu shot clinic for all comers on Dec. 19, and individual clinics around the state have reported lately that they have enough vaccine to go beyond their high-risk patients.

DAVE HAGE