The Canadian Press

TORONTO — The Public Health Agency of Canada has good news for kids between the ages of three and nine, and their parents.

The agency says healthy children over three probably won't need a second pediatric dose of H1N1 vaccine, as was previously recommended.

But the agency is reserving the right to change the policy later, if newer scientific data points to a need for two doses for these children.

The agency says toddlers from six months to just under three years will need two shots, given at least 21 days apart.

And children between three and nine with chronic health conditions should get a first shot as soon as possible, then get a second at some point later, with an interval of at least three weeks.

The head of the agency, Dr. David Butler-Jones, says this move is good news for families and should help free up vaccine resources so more at-risk people can be protected.