SAINT JOHN, NB - As the supply of H1N1 vaccine runs low in New Brunswick, so has the patience of many residents eager to be immunized.

Premier Shawn Graham says New Brunswickers are better off than many across the country.

While in Saint John yesterday afternoon, the Premier noted that 128,000 New Brunswickers have now been immunized, which is 20 per cent of the population.

Graham claims those numbers lead the country.

But he admits the heavy demand for the vaccine was a surprise.

"Initially we had not anticipated such a reaction to people wanting the vaccine, in fact we were almost encouraging people to go out," Graham says. "But when there was an instance of a tragic death reported in Ontario, the public awareness spiked."

Graham says that coupled with a shortage of supply resulted in cancelled clinics across the province, although priority groups and pregnant woman will continue to be vaccinated this week.